Two small wooden ancient African figurines, believed to be 1,500 years old, have been unearthed in ancient Christian tombs in Israel’s Negev desert. The Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) announced the discovery Wednesday, alongside a research paper published in its academic journal Atiqot.
The figurines, carved from rare ebony wood, were found at the Tel Malhata archaeological site in the Arad Valley. The material likely came from India or Sri Lanka, but experts believe the figures were made in Africa based on their distinctive facial features.
“As far as we know, no such figurine had ever been identified in Israel, Jordan, and our region,” said Dr. Noé D. Michael, an archaeologist with the IAA and the University of Cologne in Germany. He co-authored the academic paper detailing the find.
The artifacts were discovered during the 2017 excavation season in two neighboring graves—one belonging to a woman estimated between 20 and 40 years old and the other to a child between six and eight.
Researchers believe the individuals were likely mother and child, based on the graves’ proximity and similar burial gifts. Attempts to confirm this through DNA testing were unsuccessful.
Cemetery reflects regional religious shifts
The graves date to the late sixth or early seventh century and are part of a larger cemetery south of the Tel Malhata settlement. The cemetery has been under study since the 1980s, with more than 300 graves excavated.
Most belong to Christian individuals, though some graves date back to the Roman pagan period and the early Islamic era. No Jewish burials have been identified at the site.
While the graves lacked religious symbols, the bodies were laid on their backs with heads pointing west—a common Christian burial practice in Byzantine times.
Michael noted that Christianity had spread to the Horn of Africa by the sixth century, aligning with the estimated time of death. The woman and child may have migrated north through trade routes.
Tel Malhata sat at the crossroads of key trade routes. One route stretched from the Gulf of Aqaba to Jerusalem; another linked Gaza to the Dead Sea. “Since Tel Malhata was located on these important trade routes, many people passed through it,” he added, pointing to rare alabaster jewelry and imported materials.
Artifacts suggest personal and cultural significance
In addition to the ebony pieces, archaeologists found three figurines carved from bone. While rare, bone figurines have been documented in other sites.
Burial goods such as jewelry, coins, and glass were commonly included in tombs of women and children during the Byzantine period. Men, by contrast, were rarely buried with personal items.
The figurines include a woman’s head measuring about 1.5 centimeters tall, and a partial figure of a man with long hair. Both have small holes, indicating they were likely worn as pendants.
Researchers believe the figures depict ancestors rather than deities, possibly meant to accompany the deceased in the afterlife.
Despite its historical importance, Tel Malhata remains only partially excavated. During the Roman period, it housed a fortified structure that may have served as a military post or an agricultural estate.
The site was briefly abandoned in the early third century but was resettled by the fourth. By the Byzantine era, it may have supported up to 5,000 residents.
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