Before Beds: How Humans Slept Without Mattresses

Fossilized grass beds clue us into the ancient sleeping habits of our ancestors. But how advanced were their beds and mattresses - and were they comfortable? In this episode I delve into what humans did before beds and what came before the soft, plush mattresses we know today.

I also explore some unusual sleeping habits of our ancestors - who used to love sharing beds with each other…whether friends, colleagues or complete strangers. And why some believe we should revisit an old habit of “biphasic” sleeping.

Chapters:

01:00 Why do we sleep?

01:51 Nature’s first mattresses

3:43 First beds and platforms

4:58 Ancient sleep practices

8:44 The evolution of mattresses

11:56 Are modern beds always better?

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