Uncovering the Origins of the First Recorded Kiss in History.

Researchers from the University of Oxford and the University of Copenhagen have discovered that kissing was a cultural practice in the ancient Middle East at least 4,500 years ago, based on various written sources from the earliest Mesopotamian societies. The findings push back the earliest recorded evidence of kissing by 1,000 years compared to the timeline previously accepted by the scientific community. The researchers postulate that besides its social and sexual significance, the act of kissing may have unintentionally facilitated the transmission of microorganisms, leading to the potential spread of viruses among humans.