Rare African Figurines Unearthed in Southern Israel
Exceptional Archaeological Findings
In a remarkable archaeological discovery, five miniature figurines, featuring intricately carved heads of African figures, were uncovered at burial sites in Tel Malhata, located in the Arad Valley of the Negev. These artifacts, dated to approximately 1,500 years ago, were found alongside the remains of women and children in what researchers believe to be Christian graves.
According to the research led by Dr. Nahum Michael from the Israel Antiquities Authority and the University of Cologne in Germany, with contributions from Svetlana Talys, Dr. Yossi Nager, and Emil Eljam of the Israel Antiquities Authority, the findings have been published in the latest edition of the academic journal ‘Atiqot’.
Insights into Ancient Communities
The figurines, which appear to represent a Christian community that possibly had ties to Africa, were crafted from rare ebony wood and bstart-materials sourced from regions such as southern India and Sri Lanka. Researchers suggest these small sculptures, designed with distinct facial features, were not merely decorative items but likely served as personal artifacts that carried identity, tradition, and memory.
“The figurines may represent ancestral figures and reflect traditions passed down through generations, even following the adoption of Christianity,” the researchers noted. The careful placement of these figurines alongside the remains indicates their significance in the burial customs of the time.
Cultural Exchange in the Roman-Byzantine Period
Historically, Tel Malhata was a pivotal crossroads during the Roman-Byzantine period, facilitating trade between merchants from South Arabia, India, and Africa. “The discovery of African figurines within local Christian graves is a rare finding that enhances our understanding of the cultural diversity among the inhabitants of this region around 1,500 years ago,” researchers emphasized.
Among the items found with the figurines were glassware, ststart and alabaster jewelry, and bronze bracelets. The burial sites themselves exhibit characteristics typical of traditional Christian interments from the 6th to 7th centuries CE.
Notably, the findings suggest that an adult woman and a child buried next to each other, both with two of the figurines, likely belonged to the same family-possibly a mother and her son.
Reflection on Cultural Heritage
Eli Escuzido, Director of the Israel Antiquities Authority, remarked on the significance of the Tel Malhata findings, stating, “These discoveries are not only archaeologically significant but also profoundly human. They remind us that the land of Israel has always been a meeting point for cultures and peoples-individuals arrived here, absorbed into the local population, yet simultaneously carried with them traditions and beliefs from faraway places.