Monday, April 13, 2015

Bell-Beaker Folk For Monday Mystery...!

There are many things about our past we don't understand or really know anything about. This story from listverse is about one of them.

It seems to me that the more I study and research the past searching for answers, the more questions I end up having, ya know? Ever happen to you?

The Origins Of The Bell-Beaker Folk


Photo credit: Thomas Ihle

Although they sound like something to do with the Muppets, the Bell-Beaker folk were one of the most important cultures in ancient Europe. Wherever they turned up, copper weapons, bronze jewelry, advanced archery equipment, and their iconic drinking vessels would appear not long afterward. They were harbingers of the Bronze Age. In ancient Britain, they even redesigned Stonehenge. Yet we have no idea where they came from.

It’s like they just appeared out of thin air. Although we can trace aspects of their culture back through the ages, they tend to crop up in places where it doesn’t make any sense for them to be. This has led many to speculate that they were less a single culture than a cross-cultural phenomenon—kind of like if people in the future dig up iPhones in China and conclude US invaders brought them.

But that doesn’t explain why Beaker folk buried in Germany all have DNA similar to modern Spaniards and Portuguese. Where did they come from, and why did they suddenly decide to spread across Europe? We’ll probably never know

I'll never understand how an entire civilization can just show up and no amount of research can define where they came from. Almost makes you believe in alien visitors, doesn't it?

Coffee in the kitchen again this morning. Rain is here once more!

7 comments:

Mamahen said...

Interesting!

linda m said...

Very interesting. Sure would love to know who and where they came from. Sort of like those civilizations that disappear from the face of the earth with no trace left of where they went. Raining here so I'll stop at Dunkin's on my way over to your house for coffee.

Chickenmom said...

Man is an adventurer - always wants to see what's on the other side of the hill. Save the chocolate honey dipped one for me, Linda!

JO said...

So many unanswered questions about the peoples who came before us and no one knows what became of them.

We only had short fine drizzles here yesterday and chilly.

HermitJim said...

Hey Mamahen...
Thought you might find it so.

Thanks for stopping by today!



Hey Linda...
Donuts are always welcome here with coffee.

Thanks for dropping by today!



Hey Phyllis...
The grass is always greener, I reckon.

Thanks for the visit today!




Hey Jo...
I reckon some of those questions will ever be answered.

Sounds like your weather is getting better!

Thanks, sweetie, for coming over today!

Dizzy-Dick said...

I bet that they didn't go to all the trouble of making those nice drinking vessels without making an alcoholic drink to fill them with (grin).

HermitJim said...

Hey Dizzy...
I have a feeling you are right about that!

Thanks for coming by today!