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Historians previously believed the first recorded instance of a human kiss occurred 4,500 years ago. Now a 2023 archaeological discovery challenges this assumption. 

In the timeless dance of human affection, the act of kissing has long held a place of significance.

Unearthed clay tablets dating back millennia have rewritten the narrative. There is now evidence that humans may have been kissing a thousand years earlier than previously thought.

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The Human Kiss

According to Smithsonian researchers there is evidence of kissing in the ancient Middle East. And this is documented in ancient texts from 2,500 BCE.

Embedded within the ancient clay tablets of Mesopotamia lies a poetic testament to human intimacy.

The translation by Nathan Wasserman of the Akkadian Love Literature of the Third and Second Millennium B.C.E. reveal poignant expressions of desire.

"My upper lip becomes moist, while my lower lip trembles! I shall embrace him; I shall kiss him." These words, etched into history from Sippar, Mesopotamia, offer a glimpse into the romantic customs of early civilizations.

The Language of Love in Mesopotamia

Dr. Troels Pank Arbøll, an authority on the medical history of Mesopotamia, emphasizes the universality of kissing across ancient cultures.

 He notes, "Many thousands of these clay tablets have survived to this day, and they contain clear examples that kissing was considered a part of romantic intimacy in ancient times." 

This revelation challenges previous notions of kissing as a custom exclusive to specific regions, suggesting its practice spanned diverse cultures over millennia.

Insights from Chimpanzees

Beyond the annals of human history, the study of our closest biological relatives, the bonobo chimpanzees, offers intriguing parallels. 

Observations of bonobos engaging in kissing rituals in the Democratic Republic of Congo suggest that the roots of kissing may extend far beyond recorded human history. 

These behaviors hint at a shared evolutionary heritage, implying that kissing might have ancient origins predating human civilization.

The Kiss and Disease

Yet, with the embrace of kissing came unforeseen consequences. Kissing can spread germs and disease.

Researchers also point to evidence that the early spread of orally transmitted diseases such as cold sores could have been down to the ancient kissing.

Scholars speculate that the transmission of oral pathogens, including herpes simplex virus 1 and diphtheria, may have been facilitated by ancient kissing practices. 

Dr. Arbøll points to medical texts from Mesopotamia, which describe symptoms resembling modern-day herpes infections, hinting at a historical link between kissing and disease transmission.

The Legacy of the Human Kiss

It's now clear that the human kiss transcends time and culture. From the poetic verses of ancient Mesopotamia to the intimate gestures of bonobo chimpanzees, kissing emerges as a universal expression of love and connection. 

While its origins may lie buried beneath millennia of history, the legacy of the human kiss endures, shaping our understanding of intimacy and affection.