Why Couldn’t European Sailors Swim In The Past?

Conny Waters - AncientPages.com -  In the Cave of the Swimmers at Wadi Sura in the Gilf Kebir, in the southwest corner of Egypt, not far from Libya and Sudan, there are 8,000-year-old cave paintings depicting humans swimming. These ancient rock art depictions are among the earliest known representations of swimming.

While the Bedouin nomads were familiar with these rock carvings for a long time, the Western world first became aware of their existence in 1933 when desert mapper and explorer Lászlo Almásy discovered them during his explorations. These ancient artworks provide valuable insights into prehistoric societies' cultural practices and artistic expressions.

According to historical records, the earliest humans taught themselves how to swim over 100,000 years ago, driven by the need to acquire food and for recreational purposes.  This remarkable ability to swim and dive demonstrates the ingenuity and adaptability of our ancient ancestors.

Therefore, it is a bit surprising to learn that well into the 19th century, European sailors' inability to swim was widespread.

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