World’s Oldest Eyeliner Discovered in Turkey, 8,200 Years Old and Still Black

Archaeologists have uncovered the oldest known eyeliner from the remains of a prehistoric city in Turkey, revealing that humans have been using makeup for more than 8,000 years.

The discovery, a kohl stick, was found in Yeşilova Höyük, an ancient settlement in western Turkey. Kohl sticks, still popular today, were traditionally used as eyeliner. This particular one, made from green serpentine stone, still has traces of black paint on its tip, despite being over 8,200 years old.

Zafer Derin, the lead archaeologist, told the *Daily Mail*, “For centuries, kohl has been worn by individuals of all genders, statuses, and socioeconomic levels.” Kohl was commonly used in regions like Egypt, the Levant, Syria, Iran, and Anatolia.

Derin explained that the discovery of the kohl stick in Yeşilova Höyük, the oldest known example, might indicate how much the early Aegean women who lived there valued beauty.

The kohl stick was found in a Neolithic layer, dating back over 8,200 years, in the city of Izmir, Turkey. It measures nearly 10 cm in length and 1 cm in thickness, and is among various ancient artifacts created by the people of Yeşilova Höyük.

Dr. Derin described it as “very well smoothed and shaped into a sharp pen.” The stick was likely dipped into kohl and then used for makeup. The black substance on its tip is believed to be manganese oxide, a common component of kohl, and is currently being analyzed.

However, kohl’s use may not have been purely cosmetic. Dr. Derin noted that in ancient Egypt, kohl was often used for medicinal purposes, particularly to treat eye diseases. Additionally, it was believed to help reduce glare from the sun when applied thickly around the eyes.

Kohl is traditionally made by grinding stibnite, a mineral found in hydrothermal deposits.