hebel. today · 15 November 202661 / 79
Beyond Familiar · Beyond Familiar
Children taught by clay in the Levant 15,000 years ago
Archaeologists excavating three Natufian sites in Israel—Eynan-Mallaha, Hayonim Terrace, and el-Wad Terrace—discovered 154 clay figurative pieces dating back 15,000 years, representing the earliest known clay figurine tradition in Southwest Asia. The collection includes 15…
From 2 newsletters · 1 min read · one thing to try
Archaeologists excavating three Natufian sites in Israel—Eynan-Mallaha, Hayonim Terrace, and el-Wad Terrace—discovered 154 clay figurative pieces dating back 15,000 years, representing the earliest known clay figurine tradition in Southwest Asia (Ancient Beat). The collection includes 15 recognizable figurines, dominated by birds like ducks and geese, alongside 139 cylindrical fragments (Ancient Beat). One piece features a thin layer of red clay engobe, marking the earliest known application of this decorative technique.
“The best part is the fingerprints: some come from children likely under ten, and one human figurine carries overlapping prints from an adult and a child, which may capture a moment of hands-on teaching.”
Ancient Beat
The most striking evidence lies in the fingerprints pressed into the clay, some belonging to children under the age of ten. One figurine displays overlapping prints from an adult and a child, a physical record of hands-on instruction. These findings suggest that Natufian societies used clay modeling as a medium for teaching and recording seasonal or animal knowledge, rather than solely for artistic expression. The figurines' poses, such as bird heads tilted down and to the left, likely mimic duck courtship displays, indicating a sophisticated observation of local wildlife long before the advent of farming or pottery.
- Scythians inhaled hemp vapours in small tents after funerals, a ritual practice described by Herodotus and supported by chemical traces in 2,800-year-old Siberian hair (Ilari Mäkelä from On Humans).
- Neanderthals possessed flatter feet with lower arches than modern humans, an adaptation for stability while carrying heavy loads across rough, mountainous terrain (Ancient Beat).
Try today · 30 min
Create a clay figurine using a technique that captures a physical record of your own process.
Use a soft, air-dry clay and press your fingertips into the surface while the material is still malleable.
You need
- 200g of air-dry clay
- A flat, non-porous surface
Steps
- Shape a small animal or human form from the clay.
- Apply a thin, uniform layer of a different colored clay or pigment if available.
- Press your fingers firmly into the surface of the clay while it is wet.
- Invite a second person to press their fingers over or near your own marks.
- Allow the piece to air-dry completely.