![]() ![]() With long hours of darkness and nothing to do, you’d have thought Neolithic people would be sleep fiends, but not so. Our ancient ancestors probably went to sleep very soon after dusk without artificial light, their melatonin levels would have responded to sunrise and sunset accordingly, causing them to follow the rhythms of the day. Sleep was likely to have occurred in short bursts, helping them stay alert for danger. ![]() This suggests that they slept in the foetal position (which may have made them feel more secure, given the dangers of the world around them). Evidence shows that our ancestors preferred to sleep in ‘round’ beds, a little like nests, made from materials like straw. Our Ice Age ancestors required the ‘fight or flight’ response for survival both day and night, which is why we hold on to that (once useful) adrenalin today. You know that feeling you realise you’ve been “de-friended” on Facebook? That rush of adrenaline? It originates from the aforementioned sabre tooth tiger encounters. So how did our ancestors sleep when we have enough trouble in the present? While we haven’t exactly reached peak sleep thanks to the stresses of the modern world, remember this: at least you didn’t have to get up and fend off a saber tooth tiger last night (probably, anyway). Our relentless advancements have presented us with an incredible opportunity: a world where everyone everywhere can enjoy the benefits of a good night’s kip.Įven if it doesn’t feel that way when it’s 9 in the morning, you’re on your fourth coffee break, and you’re competing with your colleagues about how tired you are. We can google any sleep problem we have, ask specialists for detailed advice, and create beds that pack years of research into a single mattress ( like we did, in fact). ![]()
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