Unearthed in Israel’s Negev: Mysterious 1,500-Year-Old African Figurines Challenge History’s Secrets
Imagine unearthing 1,500-year-old graves in Israel’s Negev Desert only to find tiny figurines carved from priceless ebony, sporting unmistakable African facial features—and realizing these weren’t merely decorative tchotchkes, but intimate pendants worn close to the heart. What on earth were African-faced ebony carvings doing buried alongside Christian remains in a land so far from ebony’s tropical origins? It’s like finding a slice of Bollywood in your grandma’s attic—unexpected, puzzling, and downright intriguing. These figurines open a fascinating window into ancient global crossroads where identities, faiths, and traditions intermingled, reminding us that people have always been wanderers weaving their stories across continents. Intrigued yet? Let’s dive into how these rare artifacts challenge what we thought we knew about trade, migration, and cultural exchange in the Byzantine era. LEARN MORE
Made from valuable ebony and carved with “African facial features,” the figurines found in graves in Israel seem to have been worn as pendants around the sixth or seventh century C.E.
Dafna Gazit/Israel Antiquities AuthorityOne of the figurines found in the Negev Desert in Israel.
During excavations at the archaeological site of Tel Malḥata in Israel’s Negev Desert, archaeologists came upon a perplexing discovery within 1,500-year-old graves. The graves, which appeared to be Christian burials, contained figurines with African features that had been carved from ebony wood.
The discovery has raised multiple questions about where the carvings were originally made and where the people buried in the graves came from. What’s sure is that they fit into the larger history of Tel Malḥata, an ancient settlement now tucked in the perimeter of the Nevatim air base.
Post Comment