The evolution of rattles is really interesting, after all, they are one of the oldest children's toys. Already in the Palaeolithic children were entertained with seeds rattling in dried seed pods. Later rattles made from clay, had stones inside - they appear in the Early Bronze Age and Iron Age. Archaeologists made a unique discovery even recently - one of the historically first preserved rattles from this period, a 4000 years old rattle shaped like a bear's head, was discovered in October 2016 in Novosibirsk. Prehistoric rattles occur throughout the ancient world - in the Inca Empire, Mesopotamia, Hittite Kingdom, or in Egypt. They were, however, intended rather for adults, who entertained children with them but at the same time they were used as a ritual object for ceremonies. Rattles should protect offsprings from evil spirits and had a cult function. Such clay rattles were also preserved on the territory of Slovakia, from the Palaeolithic of the Madarovce culture (1600-1400 BC) and had either oval, conical or zoomorphic shape.
Clay, however, is fragile, and its shards are sharp. Moreover, since ancient times children are eager to take interesting things in their hands and then in their mouth. Therefore, naturally bronze rattles appear in the Late Bronze Age.
