29 October 2025 The Future is the Product of the Past

Archaeologists Find Rare Ancient African Figurines in Christian Graves in Negev Desert

Researchers have uncovered five miniature figurines, including intricately carved African heads, in 1,500-year-old graves in Israel’s Negev Desert. These rare artifacts—found in Christian burial sites at Tel Malḥata—are shedding new light on the region’s unexpected cultural diversity during the Byzantine period.

The statuettes were discovered in 2017 during an excavation at Tel Malhata in the Arad Valley, in graves belonging to women and children.

The discovery, made during excavations by the Israel Antiquities Authority in collaboration with the University of Cologne, is detailed in the latest issue of ʻAtiqot, the Authority’s academic journal. The findings provide evidence of long-distance trade, religious transformation, and African influence in the southern Levant.

Ancient Symbols of Identity and Belief

The figurines, made of bone and ebony wood—a luxury material imported from southern India and Sri Lanka—were found in tombs of women and children. Each figurine features distinct African facial characteristics and is designed with a hole, suggesting it was worn as a pendant or personal amulet.

According to lead researcher Dr. Noé D. Michael, “These figurines may have served not only as ornaments but also as deeply personal items, embodying identity, memory, and ancestral heritage—even after the community had adopted Christianity.”



📣 Our WhatsApp channel is now LIVE! Stay up-to-date with the latest news and updates, just click here to follow us on WhatsApp and never miss a thing!!



Figurines that were discovered in the IAA excavation. Credit: Dafna Gazit, Israel Antiquities Authority
Figurines that were discovered in the IAA excavation. Credit: Dafna Gazit, Israel Antiquities Authority

A Crossroads of Trade and Tradition

During the Roman-Byzantine era, Tel Malḥata functioned as a vital trade hub, connecting Africa, Arabia, and South Asia. The presence of African figurines in Christian burial contexts is exceptionally rare and offers compelling evidence of the cultural mosaic that existed in the Negev around the 6th–7th centuries CE.

In addition to the figurines, the graves contained glassware, stone and alabaster jewelry, and bronze bracelets, further highlighting the area’s multicultural character.

Family, Faith, and Forgotten Stories

One grave held the remains of a woman and a child buried side by side—possibly a mother and son—alongside two figurines, suggesting intimate familial connections and possibly shared spiritual beliefs. These burial practices demonstrate how personal traditions were preserved even within a Christian religious framework.

Credit: Dafna Gazit, Israel Antiquities Authority
Credit: Dafna Gazit, Israel Antiquities Authority

A Window into the Past

Eli Escusido, Director of the Israel Antiquities Authority, emphasized the emotional and scholarly significance of the find: “These artifacts are a poignant reminder that the Land of Israel has always been a crossroads of civilizations. The people who lived here came from afar, settled, and brought with them the stories, customs, and memories of distant homelands.”

The discovery of these figurines at Tel Malḥata offers far more than a glimpse into ancient burial customs—it reveals a rich and complex web of intercultural relationships, spiritual continuity, and global connections in a region often viewed through a narrow historical lens. The presence of African-inspired artifacts, made from materials sourced from South Asia, in the graves of early Christian communities speaks volumes about the cosmopolitan character of the Negev 1,500 years ago.

Along with the figurines, glassware, alabaster jewelry, and bronze bracelets were also found. Credit: Svetlana Talis, Israel Antiquities Authority
Along with the figurines, glassware, alabaster jewelry, and bronze bracelets were also found. Credit: Svetlana Talis, Israel Antiquities Authority

Such findings challenge the conventional understanding of ancient societies as isolated or homogenous. Instead, they highlight how even in remote desert settlements, people maintained ties—through trade, belief, or heritage—with distant parts of the world. These figurines serve not only as archaeological treasures but also as timeless symbols of how identity, faith, and culture travel across borders and endure through generations.

Atiqot

Cover Image Credit: Dafna Gazit, Israel Antiquities Authority

Related Articles

Two more Giants discovered at Mont’e Prama in Sardinia, Italy

7 May 2022

7 May 2022

Two more Giants have emerged from the Mont’e Prama excavations in Sardinia: both of the new statues have been described...

“Mosaic of the Wine Harvest” mosaic to be exhibited in November in Turkey’s Hatay

26 October 2021

26 October 2021

The mosaic depicting the grape harvest, which is considered to date from the Late Roman period, equivalent to the 5th...

Ancient Eco-Tech Uncovered in Lebanon: Phoenicians Used Recycled Pottery for Hydraulic Lime Plaster 2,700 Years Ago

23 July 2025

23 July 2025

Excavations at Tell el-Burak Reveal Technological Innovation and Early Sustainable Construction in Iron Age Lebanon In a major archaeological breakthrough,...

Nearly 1,000-year-old Native American canoe recovered from Lake Waccamaw

18 April 2023

18 April 2023

A 1,000-year-old Waccamaw Indian dug canoe was retrieved from Lake Waccamaw near Wilmington, North Carolina after it was discovered by...

Who will solve the puzzle of Bronze Age tin? Origin of tin ingots from Uluburun shipwreck disputed – the metal may have come from Cornwall

3 October 2023

3 October 2023

The exact origin of tin in the Bronze Age is the Holy Grail of archaeometallurgists: For 150 years, experts have...

Buried Secrets: How a Roman Sailor’s Gravestone Resurfaced in a New Orleans Yard

9 October 2025

9 October 2025

A routine yard cleanup in New Orleans turned into an international archaeological mystery when a homeowner uncovered a 2nd-century Roman...

Archaeologists Unveil Sanctuary of Odysseus on Ithaca: A Monumental Discovery Rooted in Myth and History

15 June 2025

15 June 2025

A major archaeological breakthrough on the Greek island of Ithaca has brought new clarity to the island’s legendary past. Researchers...

Earthquakes caused slight damage to Hatay Archeology Museum

10 February 2023

10 February 2023

The Republic of Turkey Ministry of Culture and Tourism issued a press release on the latest status of museums and...

Mysterious Mongolian Arc in Eastern Mongolia Studied for the First Time

30 December 2023

30 December 2023

Researchers have studied the 405-km wall system in eastern Mongolia known as the Mongolian Arc to learn more about its...

Extraordinary discovery for the Western Baltic Sea region: a 400-year-old shipwreck Found at Bottom of German River

3 August 2022

3 August 2022

During a routine measurement at Trave, near Lübeck, in the northern part of Germany,  Kiel-Holtenau Waterways and Shipping Authority (Wasserstraßen-...

Archaeologists Found Evidence of a Lost Temple in Chorazin Linked to Jesus’ Healing Miracles

12 August 2024

12 August 2024

Recent archaeological excavations in Israel may have unearthed the remains of a long-lost temple, believed to be the very site...

Ancient ‘Cancer-Treating’ Magical Amulet Discovered in Türkiye’s Antioch of Pisidia

30 December 2024

30 December 2024

An intriguing artifact was discovered during excavations in the ancient city of Pisidia Antioch in Isparta province in western Türkiye:...

Archaeological settlements dating back 3000 years found in Qurayat, Oman

2 October 2022

2 October 2022

Archaeological research in Oman’s Qurayat Province has revealed numerous archaeological and historical settlements, some dating back more than 3,000 years...

Scientists discover 4 new Nazca Geoglyphs using AI deep learning

4 June 2023

4 June 2023

Scientists from Japan used AI deep learning to discover new geoglyphs in the Arid Peruvian coastal plain, in the northern...

1900 years old funerary altar of a teenage girl discovered in Rome

9 May 2022

9 May 2022

A funerary altar indicating the location of the remains of Valeria, a 13-year-old girl who died in the 2nd century...