Our predecessors used to play football in the past age. A team of archaeologists discovered 3 leather balls, which prove to be extremely ancient, upholstered with leather stripes, wool and hair. According to experts, they made use of them to play sport. Perhaps something which most probably resembled polo. A “trifling” detail: they are supposedly nearly 3,000 years old.
Leather balls
A few months ago, a team of archaeologists were carrying out some works in the ancient Yanghai graveyard, located in Thurpan, in the Chinese region of Xinjiang Uygur. While working at the archaeological site, they discovered 3 sheep leather balls. In other words, 3 balls as big as a fist hand. There were leather stripes inside them, alongside wool and hair. Their padding would make them soft, though they were keeping their spherical shape, and suitable for play. Apparently, balls are 2,400 to 2,800 years old. Experts believe that people residing in the region used them to play a kind of sport like polo, played by gripping wooden clubs.
Picture taken from newscientist.com
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