The popularity of sex toys has exploded, but artefacts have now been discovered that suggest this cultural phenomenon has existed for much longer than we initially thought. Thanks to a team of German researchers, we now know that sex toys have been in use for up to 28,000 years, dating all the way back to the Ice Age.
The stone phallus was discovered in the cave at Hohle Fels in the Swabian Jura region of Germany. This area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site thanks to the various Ice Age discoveries it has yielded, such as the oldest known musical instruments and works of human art.
The unearthing of this piece is significant because while artistic interpretations of female genitalia within this period are common, representations of male genitalia are minimal.
Archaeologists have disagreed over the artefact’s intended uses, and of course, it’s not possible to confirm that it was solely used for sexual purposes.
Some have been dismissive of this idea, claiming that its use is speculative due to its considerable size at 20cm in length and 3cm wide, as well as the existence of flint marks at one end.
However, it was discovered within prehistoric living quarters, and its smooth, polished texture at the other end is suggestive of repeated use as something other than a weapon.
Furthermore, there have also been other discoveries of similar “Ice Age batons” made out of various materials, from leather to wood, and if they were in fact used for sexual purposes, it’s possible that our neanderthal predecessors were more invested in sexuality than we presently are today.
However, it has also been considered that these tools may not have been used for pleasure and instead may have served as early torture devices, but we certainly hope this was not the case!
It’s not uncommon for historic sexual tools to be dismissed for alternative use. In 1992, a wooden phallus was found within the Ancient Roman fort Vindolanda in Northumberland, and despite a Senior Lecturer in Archaeology at Newcastle University stating it was “self-evident as a penis,” it was originally classified as a sewing tool.
Most interestingly, other archaeological sites all over the world have recorded similar findings from similar periods. From Sweden to Pakistan, the sexual symbolism is undeniable.
If you are interested in seeing this magnificent artefact in person, you can find it on display at the Blaubeuren Prehistoric Museum near Ulm in Germany.
Written by Leah Marie Cox
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