First records of human kissing may date back 1,000 years earlier than estimated

Ancient Mesopotamian clay tables show evidence of kissing as part of romantic intimacy. Photograph: University of Copenhagen/PA

Humanity’s earliest record of kissing dates back about 4,500 years in the ancient Middle East, 1,000 years earlier than previously thought, according to researchers.

Scientists have highlighted evidence that suggests kissing was practised in some of the earliest Mesopotamian societies and documented in ancient texts from 2500BC that have been largely overlooked.