Modelling symbols among the first-sedentary communities: Emergence of clay figurines in Epipaleolithic Southwest Asia (IMAGE)

PLOS

Modelling symbols among the first-sedentary communities: Emergence of clay figurines in Epipaleolithic Southwest Asia

Caption

A Natufian figurine depicting a stylised human body modelled in clay 15,000 years ago, discovered at the site of Eynan-Mallaha (Upper Jordan Valley). The back of the clay figurine bears the fingerprint of an adult, covered by a child's fingerprint. This sequence of gestures in the wet clay, when the figurine was being modelled, is a rare direct testimony of inter-generational knowledge transmission in a hands-on apprenticeship.

Credit

Laurent Davin, CC-BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Usage Restrictions

Credit must be given to the creator.

License

CC BY

Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.