Prudish Researchers
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For some reason many archeologists and researchers are reluctant to categorize something that cannot be distinguished in shape and size from a modern dildo as a sex toy. Our ancient relatives were not that different from us. They had sex, and they most certainly had sex toys for self pleasure or to enhance play with their partners. When we find something that looks like a sex toy that has no other probable use, why can’t we just call it what it is.
In the past ancient dildos have been crafted from materials like bone, ivory, limestone, siltstone, or teeth. However, when unearthed they are often categorized by archaeologists as arrow or spear straighteners, tools for shaping flint or ritual objects.
For example the discovery of scratches on one of the oldest known objects, found in the Hohle Fels cave in southwestern Germany, lead researchers to suggest its potential use in toolmaking. They saw the scratches and decided they were left there when the object was used to make flint tools. However, many argue that the use of stone penises for shaping flint is implausible, leaving open the possibility of their use as sex toys. Have a look. What do you make of the scratches on this object?
In the past ancient dildos have been crafted from materials like bone, ivory, limestone, siltstone, or teeth. However, when unearthed they are often categorized by archaeologists as arrow or spear straighteners, tools for shaping flint or ritual objects.
For example the discovery of scratches on one of the oldest known objects, found in the Hohle Fels cave in southwestern Germany, lead researchers to suggest its potential use in toolmaking. They saw the scratches and decided they were left there when the object was used to make flint tools. However, many argue that the use of stone penises for shaping flint is implausible, leaving open the possibility of their use as sex toys. Have a look. What do you make of the scratches on this object?
In her book, Buzz, about the history of sex toys, Hallie Lieberman, discusses the dildos she has seen spanning centuries, continents and cultures. They've been made from leather, stone, bone, ivory, glass and even wood. But there's one thing they all have in common, in her book she says this:
"There's always this, like, hesitation to describe our devices as sex toys, which is so fascinating to me," she said. "We have the same debates over them. Like, were these used penetratively or were they symbolic things?"
People have posited all kinds of explanations, including that they were spear sharpeners. "There's no reason we need to sharpen spears on penises. We don't do that today," she said. "I mean, I've never gone to someone's house and they're like, 'Here's my knife sharpener. It looks like a dick.’"
While it's likely that people of all genders have used dildos throughout history, she says our hesitancy to call them what they are all comes back to the same thing.
"The fears come from ... the idea that women were getting sexual pleasure somewhere other than a man,"
"There's always this, like, hesitation to describe our devices as sex toys, which is so fascinating to me," she said. "We have the same debates over them. Like, were these used penetratively or were they symbolic things?"
People have posited all kinds of explanations, including that they were spear sharpeners. "There's no reason we need to sharpen spears on penises. We don't do that today," she said. "I mean, I've never gone to someone's house and they're like, 'Here's my knife sharpener. It looks like a dick.’"
While it's likely that people of all genders have used dildos throughout history, she says our hesitancy to call them what they are all comes back to the same thing.
"The fears come from ... the idea that women were getting sexual pleasure somewhere other than a man,"
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