- Title: Ancient statuette of 'thinking person' unearthed in Israel
- Date: 23rd November 2016
- Summary: JERUSALEM (NOVEMBER 23, 2016) (REUTERS) HEAD OF POTTERY CONSERVATION UNIT AT THE ISRAELI ANTIQUITIES AUTHORITY, ELISHEVA KAMAISKY, CLEANING A 3,800-YEAR-OLD POTTERY STATUETTE FOUND IN A RECENT EXCAVATION POTTERY ON TABLE/ KAMAISKY WORKING ON JUG VARIOUS OF STATUETTE ATTACHED TO JUG KAMAISKY SPEAKING TO REPORTER (SOUNDBITE) (English) HEAD OF POTTERY CONSERVATION UNIT AT THE ISRAELI ANTIQUITIES AUTHORITY, ELISHEVA KAMAISKY, SAYING: "It is approximately 3,800-years-old and it is a very unique vessel, there is no other one like it that we know about as of today." CLOSE OF STATUETTE MORE OF VESSEL
- Embargoed: 8th December 2016 15:28
- Keywords: Israel arhcaeology vessel statue 3 800-year-old
- Location: JERUSALEM/ TEL AVIV AND YAHUD, ISRAEL
- City: JERUSALEM/ TEL AVIV AND YAHUD, ISRAEL
- Country: Israel
- Topics: Science
- Reuters ID: LVA00159O0WG7
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:An Israeli team of archaeologists and high school students have unearthed a 3,800-year-old pottery jug with a rare statuette of a person who appears deep in thought, as though sitting on a hillside with knees bent and head rested slightly on its hand.
The Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA), which oversees excavations in Israel, said on Wednesday (November 23) the jug, dating back to what archaeologists refer to as the Middle Bronze Age, had been discovered during an excavation in Yahud, a Tel Aviv suburb.
"It is a very unique vessel, there is no other one like it that we know about as of today," Elisheva Kamaisky, Head of Pottery Conservation Unit at the IAA, told Reuters in Jerusalem.
Students and high school pupils who joined the excavation were very excited about the finding.
"It could be the most amazing finding that I will ever see in my life, could be," said Getta Rosenzweig, archaeology student From Tel Aviv University.
"Our last finding is very important," said Gilad Itach, who directed the excavation, which included teenage diggers.
"From this period we don't have any evidence for writing and such a unique piece of vessel, such a unique antrophomofic jug, we hope to learn a lot about the material culture of the society that lived in this area in this specific period," he added.
The statuette is about 18 cm (7 inches) tall.
Other vessels and metal items were found such as daggers, arrowheads, an axe head, sheep bones and what are believed to be the bones of a donkey.
Itach said the collection seemed to be offerings from a funeral, likely of an important member of an ancient community. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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