Unique 35,000-year-old ritual turtle statue discovered in Israel

In the Manot Cave in northern Israel, archaeological researchers have discovered a unique stone sculpture in the shape of a turtle that can tell a lot about the spiritual life of ancient people.

The artifact, weighing 28 kg and measuring about 20 cm, has attracted special attention of scientists. Carved from a dolomite boulder, it has characteristic grooves similar to the natural marks of a turtle's shell.

Experts from the University of Haifa and Case Western Reserve have determined that the sculpture is about 37,000 years old. Researcher Omri Barzilai suggests that the object could have served as a totem or spiritual figure, as evidenced by its unique location in the deep part of the cave. This is reported by the Daily Mail.

Manot Cave, discovered in 2008, served as a home for various primitive communities, including Neanderthals and homo sapiens. Earlier, a mixed skull was found here, which confirmed the contacts between these groups.

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Scientists have found that the space deep in the cave was probably used for social gatherings and rituals. The natural acoustics of the room and traces of wood ash on the stalagmites indicate organized group meetings with artificial lighting.

The symbolism of the turtle has a deep cultural significance. In various traditional cultures, including the Maya and the indigenous peoples of North America, the turtle symbolized space, earth, resilience, and perseverance.

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The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, expands our understanding of the social organization and spiritual life of primitive human communities.

The unique discovery demonstrates the complexity and diversity of the culture of ancient people, their ability to think symbolically and create artistic objects long before the formation of modern civilization.

As a reminder, archaeologists have found a square in Spain dating back to the era of Ancient Rome.