Ancient metal tubes excavated in 1897 could be oldest surviving drinking straws

Ever thought straws would have existed 5000 years ago? Eight silver and gold tubes held in a Russian museum have long been thought to have been either ceremonial staffs or canopy supports. In reality, the long tubes are the oldest surviving drinking straws, archeologists say. According to various reports, people used these high-end straws to drink beer from a communal vessel more than 5,000 years ago, conclude Viktor Trifonov.