Archaeologists have discovered an ancient "magic wand" on which realistic images of human faces are carved. The artifact is approximately 9,000 years old. He was found in the southern region of Syria next to a cemetery, where about thirty decapitated people were buried.
The 12-centimeter rod was made from a bison rib. Two faces with closed eyes were carved into the bone.
According to experts, while they have assumptions about the purpose of the strange rod. There is a version that it was used during ancient burial rituals to summon "supernatural beings."
According to archaeologist Frank Bramer of the French National Center for Scientific Research, this is a very unusual and unique artifact that appears to have been used in a long-forgotten funeral ritual. The patterns found on it are one of the few naturalistic images of human faces that were made by the inhabitants of these places of that period.
The "Magic Wand" was found during excavations in 2007 in an area called Tel Karassa. For several millennia, a hill was created here from the waste of everyday human life. It is worth noting that many archaeological sites were looted or destroyed during the civil war, but Tel Karassa is lucky - it is located in a fairly calm area.
Other artifacts were found at this site, which suggested that in ancient times the inhabitants of Syria became the first farmers, beginning to cultivate spelled (a type of wheat), peas, barley and lentils. Also, local residents bred and hunted goats, pigs, gazelles and deer.
According to experts, naturalistic images of human faces may be associated with the appearance in ancient people of the desire to materialize the personalities of the dead.
True, it is not yet clear why someone took the skulls out of the burials, placing them in the living quarters of the village. The skulls have also been found in Jericho, a city in Palestine. They were covered with plaster and paint.
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It is worth noting that similar finds were found in other areas, for example, in Anatolia and Jordan. Their age is also about 9 thousand years.
Scientists have hypothesized that this practice is one of the forms of ancestor worship that has spread throughout the Middle East. It is possible that the ancient inhabitants of these places believed that human faces helped to summon supernatural beings during rituals. The researchers also admit that the faces of defeated enemies were inflicted on the stick.