The artistry at 12,000-year-old Ein Gedi - Chalcolitic Temple reveals sophisticated Natufian culture. Over 20 art pieces found including a human face sculpted from a pebble, plus disc and cylindrical beads from seashells and local rock. High-quality lime plaster even exceeds later Pre-Pottery Neolithic examples. Human burials were placed beneath buildings, including a woman under a wall that was carefully dismantled and rebuilt around her. 🏺
Natufian artistry and burial practices at 12,000-year-old Ein Gedi - Chalcolitic Temple settlement
Georgia (country)Excavation
Key facts
- High-quality lime plaster discovered in large quantities, quality exceeding later Pre-Pottery Neolithic examples
- Over 20 intact and broken pieces of art found including engraved bone items and jewelry
- Famous human face sculpted from a pebble discovered at the site
- Exquisite bead production with disc and cylindrical shapes from seashells and local rock
- 12,000-year-old human burials found inside the settlement under buildings
- One woman was buried under a wall with evidence of careful wall dismantling and rebuilding
- One young woman covered with lime plaster after burial in a pit with three more bodies placed on top
- Animal remains show hunting of young antelope, turtles, rabbits, water birds, and fish
Site mentioned
Sources
Analyzing 'building stones' at Nahal Ein Gev II - ScienceDirect.comsciencedirect.com
In the Southern Levant, the Natufians established a long-lasting tradition of using stones, along with other materials, for construction.
Nahal Ein Gev II, a Late Natufian Community at the Sea of Galileejournals.plos.org
Nahal Ein Gev II. NEG II is located in Nahal (wadi) Ein Gev, at the middle of a perennial stream that flows west to the Sea of Galilee (SW 261750–743280; NE ...
A human face carved on a pebble from the Late Natufian site of ...cambridge.org
This article presents a 12 000-year-old example unearthed at the Late Natufian site of Nahal Ein Gev II (NEGII), just east of the Sea of Galilee, Israel.
12000-Year-Old Figurine Uncovered in Northern Israelarchaeology.org
JERUSALEM, ISRAEL—A 12,000-year-old figurine depicting a human-animal interaction has been unearthed at Nahal Ein Gev II (NEG II), ...
Nahal Ein Gev II - The Institute of Archaeologyarchaeology.huji.ac.il
Nahal Ein Gev II is a Late Natufian site (12,000 cal BP). The site is a large village which is located in the Ein Gev stream, approximately two kilometers from ...
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