Archaeologists Unearth Rare Figurines Tracing African Connections to Ancient Israel
By The Media Line Staff
Archaeologists have uncovered a rare set of 1,500-year-old figurines buried in southern Israel’s Negev Desert, shedding light on early Christian communities and their far-reaching cultural connections. The Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) announced the discovery on Wednesday at Tel Malhata, an ancient site in the Arad Valley, where five miniature carvings—some made from imported ebony and depicting African facial features—were found during excavations.
Researchers from the IAA and the University of Cologne, whose findings were published in the IAA’s journal ʻAtiqot, believe the artifacts reflect a Christian community that existed during the Roman-Byzantine period and may have included people of African origin. “The figurines indicate that a Christian community lived in the southern region of the country around 1,500 years ago, with some members possibly originating from Africa,” the researchers said.
Crafted from bone and ebony—a luxury material imported from southern India or Sri Lanka—the male and female figurines were likely worn as pendants. “It is possible that the figures represent ancestors, and thus they reflect traditions passed down from generation to generation—even after the adoption of the Christian religion,” the researchers added.
The objects were found carefully placed in tombs, alongside glass vessels, alabaster jewelry, ceramic bowls, and bronze bracelets. The burial sites date to the 6th or 7th century CE and follow Christian burial practices. In one case, a woman and child buried together may have been related.
IAA director Eli Escusido said, “The discoveries at Tel Malhata are moving not only from an archaeological standpoint, but also on a human level. They serve as a powerful reminder that the land of Israel has always been a crossroads of cultures and peoples.”
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