Scientists have discovered that ancient myths, spanning cultures and continents, can be traced back to prehistoric origins. Using a phylogenetic tree, similar to that used in evolutionary biology, researchers have traced the roots of these tales, some of which are over 6,000 years old. This method has revealed that certain stories have been passed down from the Bronze Age, surviving through cultural changes and language shifts.
The researchers’ findings challenge the conventional belief that folk stories are recent and geographically localised. Instead, they suggest that these tales are ancient, and their origins can be traced back to the time when Eastern and Western Indo-European languages split, around 6,500 years ago. This includes stories such as ‘The Boy Who Stole Ogre’s Treasure’, which is prevalent in both Indo-European and non-Indo-European cultures.
The study also found that certain elements of these myths are remarkably resilient, surviving for thousands of years. This includes themes of supernatural punishment, which seem to be preserved across cultures. The study’s findings provide valuable insights into how stories evolve, adapt and survive, similar to genes in biological evolution.
Go to source article: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/scientists-trace-society-s-myths-to-primordial-origins/