Image Source: Dafna Gazit/Israel Antiquities Authority via Live Science.
Archaeologists recently unearthed ancient figurines in Israel cemetery tombs near an excavation site, according to Live Science.
The figurines may have been crafted approximately 1,500 years ago and were likely worn as pendants, the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) noted in a report. They may depict the ancestors of Africans who converted to Christianity and moved to Israel.
“It is possible that the figures represent ancestors, and thus they reflect traditions passed down from generation to generation — even after the adoption of the Christian religion,” IAA indicated.
The cemetery tombs where the figurines were found belonged to two women and one child.
Archaeologists stated that one of the tombs held a woman who may have died between the ages of eighteen and twenty-one. In addition to the figurine, this tomb contained glass vessels and a bronze bracelet.
Archaeologists pointed out that another tomb held a woman who may have died between the ages of twenty and thirty. This woman was buried with two alabaster jars and other items, along with the figurine.
Archaeologists noted that the other tomb held a child who is believed to have been six to eight years old. This tomb contained bronze jewelry and two figurines, one made of ebony and another made of bone.
The pendants in the child’s and one of the woman’s tombs were similar in style and size. As such, this woman may have been the child’s mother.
“It is likely that a woman and a child who were buried side-by-side, and in whose graves two of the figurines were discovered, belonged to the same family—and perhaps they were even mother and son,” archaeologists noted.
Those who want to view more ancient figurines can see over 12,400 such items in the WorthPoint database.
Dan Kobialka is a self-employed content writer and editor with about a decade of experience. He produces content across a wide range of industries, including antiques, insurance, and real estate. To learn more about Dan, please visit his website.
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