African Figurines Discovered in Byzantine-Era Israel Burial Site Reveal Cultural Diversity

Archaeologists have unearthed five rare figurines, including African figures carved in black wood, at a Byzantine-era burial site in the Negev desert. The discovery, dating back 1,500 years, challenges previous understandings of cultural diversity in ancient Israel. The artifacts were found in the graves of women and children at Tel Malḥata [tel ma-la-ta] in the Arad Valley. The figurines, crafted from bone and ebony wood imported from southern India and Sri Lanka, depict men and women with African facial features. Researchers believe the figurines were worn as pendants, holding significance related to identity, tradition, and ancestral memory. The research was conducted by Dr. Noé D. Michael of the Israel Antiquities Authority and the University of Cologne in Germany, along with colleagues Svetlana Tallis, Dr. Yossi Nagar, and Emil Aladjem from the Israel Antiquities Authority, and published in ʼAtiqot journal. The site, Tel Malḥata, was a major intersection for trade routes during the Roman-Byzantine period. The figurines were found alongside pottery bowls in Christian burials dating to the 6th-7th centuries CE. Researchers suggest the figurines may represent ancestors, reflecting traditions passed down through generations after adopting Christianity. Eli Escusido, Director of the Israel Antiquities Authority, highlights the human aspect of the discovery. He notes that the Land of Israel has always been a crossroads of cultures, with individuals integrating into the local population while retaining traditions from distant lands. Isotope analysis may help determine if the individuals buried with the figurines were migrants from Africa or descendants of African settlers.