Archeologists Stumble on 7500-Year-Old Finely Crafted Clay Head, Leave Them Baffled About Its Purpose
Recently, archeologists made several archeological discoveries from a site in the Al-Subiyah desert of northern Kuwait. The one finding that caught everyone's eye from the collection was a 7500-year-old clay head, according to Newsweek. Similar artifacts with features like the one on the clay head have been unearthed by experts in Mesopotamia. However, this is the first time a figurine like this has been dug up in the Gulf region. This has made the object 'intriguing' for experts.
The clay figurine and other items were excavated from the Bahra 1 archeological site by experts from the Kuwaiti-Polish Archaeological Mission (KPAM), stated The Jerusalem Post. The site is the oldest known settlement found in the Arabian Peninsula and dates back to around 5500 to 4900 B.C.
Considering that the clay figurine was the first-of-its-kind discovery in the Gulf region, it immediately became crucial for the researchers. "The discovery of the clay human head is one of the most remarkable finds of the current excavation season," Hassan Ashkanani from Kuwait University, one of the leaders of the excavations stated.
The clay figurine sported an elongated skull, having slanting eyes along with a flat nose. Examinations determined that the head was around 7500 years old. The features of the clay face are similar to what is found in Ubaid culture artifacts.
These artifacts have been unearthed in several areas of Mesopotamia and were found both in burials and domestic settlements, according to Newsweek. Hence, their purpose remains unknown to the experts. "Its presence raises intriguing questions about its purpose and the symbolic, or possibly ritualistic, value it held for the people of this ancient community," Piotr Bieliński, who co-led the Polish side of the expedition explained.
Along with the clay head, researchers have also discovered coarse redware from the site. This finding provided conclusive evidence that this kind of pottery was produced during prehistoric times. Experts had always assumed that coarse redware pottery was locally manufactured in the Gulf region, but its production sites had long evaded them. Bahra 1 was the first place where they found proof of such pots being made in prehistoric times. According to experts, pots made out of coarse clay and displaying a reddish hue were used by prehistoric populations for domestic purposes.