Researchers at the Israel Museum spent a decade studying 9,000-year-old stone masks from the pre-Pottery Neolithic period—one of only 16 known to exist worldwide. Carved from limestone to look like faces after death with sunken cheeks and exposed teeth, computer analysis confirmed the eyeholes align with a living person's field of vision. In 1983, fragments of two masks were found in Nahal cave in the Judean desert, one still preserving human hair, mustache, and beard after 9,000 years. The cave also held decorated skulls coated in asphalt and bone figurines. Researchers theorize these masks were worn by living people entering trances to channel ancestor spirits.
9,000-year-old pre-Pottery Neolithic stone masks found in Judean Hills caves
Site mentioned
📍 Nahal
Key facts
- The mask is approximately 9,000 years old, carved from limestone
- It dates to the pre-Pottery Neolithic period when humanity was learning to farm
- It is one of only 16 known stone masks from this era on the entire planet
- Almost all come from the same small stretch of hills and deserts south of Jerusalem
- Researchers at the Israel Museum spent a decade studying them
- The masks are sculpted to look like faces after death: sunken cheeks, prominent temples, exposed teeth
- Computer analysis confirmed eyeholes align with a living person's field of vision; they weigh 1-2 kg with balanced weight
- In 1983, archaeologists excavated Nahal cave in the Judean desert and found fragments of two more masks
- One mask still had human hair attached, a mustache and beard preserved for 9,000 years
- The cave also contained decorated skulls coated in asphalt, bone figurines, flint knives, and partial remains of 23 people
- Wear marks on knives suggest elaborate mortuary rituals preparing the dead
- Researchers believe masks were worn by living people who entered trances to become vessels for ancestor spirits
Sources
Mask | The Israel Museum, Jerusalemimj.org.il
This carved stone mask depicting a human face belongs to a rare group of masks from the Neolithic Period that were discovered in the Judean Desert and on ...
Nahal Hemar Cave - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
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9,000-year-old stone mask discovered in southern Hebron Hillsjpost.com
A stone mask from the Pre-Pottery Neolithic B period was discovered in the Pnei Hever region of the southern Hebron Hills.
Israel reveals eerie collection of Neolithic 'spirit' maskstimesofisrael.com
Ahead of Purim, 12 relics of 9000-year-old ancestor worship from Judean Desert, Hills to go on display at Israel Museum for first time.
A Rare Neolithic Stone Mask Was Just Unveiled In Israelallthatsinteresting.com
A 9,000-Year-Old Stone Mask From The Neolithic Era Was Just Unveiled In Israel · Just 16 similar masks have ever been found, and they were likely ...
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