World’s Oldest Emoji was Discovered in Turkey

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World's Oldest Emoji was Discovered in Turkey
World’s Oldest Emoji was Discovered in Turkey

The “smile” emoji on the 3,700 years old jug, which was unearthed by the Turkish – Italian team of archeologists in Karkamış, one of the most important ancient cities of the world, located in the south of Southeast Turkey, surprised the world.

This 3700-year-old smiling emoji jug, an artifact from the Middle Bronze Age, was found in Gaziantep, in an ancient city Karkamış, which hosted the creations of Hittite civilization.

The 3,700 years old water jug with the expression “smile”, which was unearthed about 4 years ago during the excavations in the ancient city of Karkamış will be exhibited at the Gaziantep Archeology Museum.

Archaeological excavations in the ancient city of Karkamış, one of the important cities of the Hittites who ruled in Anatolia and Mesopotamia in the 2nd millennium BC, have been continuing for the last 7 years. The ancient city of Karkamış, which served as the capital of a provincial kingdom of the Hittite Empire, is today partly located in Turkey and partly in Syria.

The jug with the smile emoji was unearthed in pieces and later put together by Turkish and Italian restorers. This jug was used for drinking wine. We do not know for what purpose the master who did this drew this emoji, but I am happy to think someone from the Hittite era still smiles at us!

Hasan Gülday

Hasan Gülday. Professional licensed tour guide working in Turkey.

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