Other discoveries

What clues can discoveries at 'Ain Ghazal and other sites in the area provide?

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Two years before the discovery of the statues in this exhibition, a large pit containing about 25 plaster statues and busts was found at 'Ain Ghazal. The statues in the large pit had been placed on their faces, backs, and sides. These statues are being uncovered and preserved at the Institute of Archaeology in London.

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• Some of these statues show arms and other body details and preserve traces of paint.
   
•  Some figures seem to depict adult females; others may represent children. There are torsos with one head, but none with two heads.
   
•  Although they are smaller than the statues in this exhibition, they are closely similar in overall form, material and manufacture, and decoration.
   
•  Like the statues in this exhibition, they were found buried together in a specially prepared pit.

Some archaeologists think these statues were "portraits" of deceased ancestors, worshiped in religious ceremonies.

 Plaster statues of human figures have been found at other sites near 'Ain Ghazal.

Regional map (40k jpg)

• Jericho: Two groups of three plaster statues were found in pits.
• Nahal Hemar: Plaster statue fragments were found in a cave.
• 'Ain Ghazal: Two pits were found containing plaster statues.

What do these other discoveries tell us about the statues in this exhibition?

• Discoveries at other sites reveal that the people of 'Ain Ghazal and their neighbors shared several beliefs and artistic practices.

Probably the statues were objects of worship or reverence. They could be images of gods and goddesses or portraits of ancestors, worshiped as powerful forces.

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 Last updated: July 28, 1996

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