The oldest depiction of an Assyrian soldier, dating back 3,000 years, shows the man diving using an inflatable goatskin bag for buoyancy and air.
Think scuba diving is a modern invention? Think again.
The scene is captured on a 9th-century BCE tablet, now preserved in the British Museum, and highlights the resourceful survival techniques employed by one of history’s most powerful civilizations.
The inflatable goatskin acted much like an ancient life preserver or snorkel aid, allowing soldiers to cross rivers undetected during military campaigns.
The Assyrian civilization thrived as a result of both their technological and strategic innovations. It’s incredible to think that thousands of years ago, such creative solutions were already in play.
Evidence shows ancient humans scuba dived more than 3,000 years ago
