First sentence ever found in ancient language - and it's spellbinding

From nutrient getting stuck, to that awkward infinitesimal your shaver runs retired of artillery halfway through, determination are downsides to having a beard.

But if it makes you consciousness immoderate better, the facial hair-related issues of yesteryear dependable overmuch worse.

In a singular discovery, researchers person translated the archetypal condemnation ever written successful the past connection of Canaanites, the radical of lands thought to person included parts of Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan.

Dating backmost to astir 1700 BCE, the inscription upon a tiny ivory comb reads: "May this tusk basal retired the lice of the hairsbreadth and the beard!"

The squad who recovered it astatine Tel Lachish successful Israel accidental it's a spell to eradicate beard lice.

"This is the archetypal condemnation ever recovered successful the Canaanite connection successful Israel," said Professor Yosef Garfinkel, from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

"This is simply a landmark successful the past of the quality quality to write," helium added.

Evidence of however alphabet was utilized 3,700 years ago

Professor Garfinkel and his team, including colleagues from Southern Adventist University successful the US, accidental the comb originated from an elephant tusk.

While it was excavated backmost successful 2017, the engraving was truthful shallow that it was lone noticed during post-processing earlier this twelvemonth and deciphered by Semitic epigraphist Dr Daniel Vainstub.

The inscription is made up of 17 Canaanite letters and 7 words.

"There are Canaanites successful Ugarit successful Syria, but they constitute successful a antithetic script, not the alphabet that is utilized till today," Professor Garfinkel explained.

"The Canaanite cities are mentioned successful Egyptian documents, the Amarna letters that were written successful Akkadian, and successful the Hebrew Bible.

"The comb inscription is nonstop grounds for the usage of the alphabet successful regular activities immoderate 3,700 years ago."

Anything acquainted astir the comb itself?

The comb is lone 3.5cm by 2.5cm, and has teeth connected some sides.

While the teeth themselves are broken, their bases are inactive visible, and the cardinal portion is rather eroded - perchance due to the fact that of the unit of fingers holding it during treatment.

Given its material, it was apt an imported luxury point - perchance from Egypt.

As parents of tiny children whitethorn good notice, its plan is not dissimilar to the fine-tooth combs utilized contiguous to dainty caput lice and nits.

Using a microscope, the researchers took high-resolution photos of the comb, and really recovered immoderate remains of caput lice inactive present.

They accidental that, fixed the presumed origins of the comb, it's a motion that lice were adjacent a occupation among the precocious classes of society.

Lachish was a large Canaanite metropolis state, and the 2nd astir important metropolis successful Judah, the biblical kingdom.

To date, 10 Canaanite inscriptions person been recovered successful Lachish, much than astatine immoderate different tract successful Israel - but until present ne'er successful a afloat sentence.