Research
Symbolic clay figurines change our understanding of the prehistoric Middle East
Phys.org ·
The Brief
- Newly discovered clay figurines are described as the earliest known example of a figurine-making tradition in the Middle East.
- The finds challenge long-held beliefs about when clay began to be used for symbolic purposes in the region.
- The findings are reported in a study published in PLOS (journal name truncated in the source).
Why it matters
The study revises the timeline for when symbolic clay objects appeared in the Middle East, which bears on how researchers understand early symbolic behaviour and the spread of clay use in prehistory.
Who’s affected
- archaeologists and prehistorians studying the Near East
- anyone interested in the origins of symbolic art
- #archaeology
- #prehistory
- #middle east
- #clay figurines
- #symbolism
Newly discovered artifacts are evidence of the earliest known example of a tradition of making clay figurines in the Middle East—and challenge long-held beliefs about when and how clay began to be used for symbolic purposes in the region, according to a study published in PLOS…
Timeline
Study reported in Science News coverage based on phys.org article
Science News - Mathematics, Economics, Archaeology, Fossils
Symbolic clay figurines change our understanding of the prehistoric Middle East