Children's fingerprints identified on 15,000-year-old clay beads in Israel. 142 clay ornaments found at four Nufian sites: Elwad, Nahal Oren, Hayanim, and Anan Malaha Study published in Science Advances by lead author Dor Lauron (Hebrew University of Jerusalem) Beads shaped by hand into cylinders, discs, and ellipses across three millennia

Tiny fingerprints on 15,000-year-old clay beads reveal children's role in Natufian symbolism! Researchers found 142 beads at four Israeli sites. These ornaments spanning millennia show deep connections between symbolism and the emergence of settled life. 👶🏺

Key facts:

- 142 clay ornaments found at four Natufian sites: el-Wad, Nahal Oren, Hayonim, and Eynan-Mallaha

- Study published in Science Advances by researchers at Hebrew University of Jerusalem

- Beads shaped by hand into cylinders, discs, and ellipses across three millennia

- About 50 fingerprints preserved in the clay belonging to children, adolescents, and adults

Key facts claimed:

- 142 clay ornaments found at four Natufian sites: el-Wad, Nahal Oren, Hayonim, and Eynan-Mallaha

- Study published in Science Advances by researchers at Hebrew University of Jerusalem

- Beads shaped by hand into cylinders, discs, and ellipses across three millennia

- Beads covered with fingerprints, palm prints - some made by children

Key Facts

  • 142 clay ornaments found at four Nufian sites: Elwad, Nahal Oren, Hayanim, and Anan Malaha
  • Study published in Science Advances by lead author Dor Lauron (Hebrew University of Jerusalem)
  • Beads shaped by hand into cylinders, discs, and ellipses across three millennia
  • Earliest known use of red ochre coloring technique (engment) anywhere in the world
  • Beads covered with fingerprints, palm prints - some made by children
  • Researchers identified 19 bead shapes resembling foods Nufians collected: barley, lentils, peas, flax
  • These plants later became backbone of agriculture during Neolithic
  • Discovery changes understanding of relationship between clay symbolism and emergence of settled life

Related site: Nahal Oren — view location, images, and history on the Ancient Nerds map.

Source: LIVE ~ PREHISTORIC ARCHAEOLOGY NEWS From Around the World by The Prehistory Guys