Israel – Israeli media reported that the Israeli Antiquities Authority discovered an ivory bowl near the city of Beersheba in the Negev Desert, made from elephant tusks and has a connection to Egyptian civilization.
The Israeli news website davar1 said that the bowl has been restored by the Antiquities Authority and will be displayed for the first time to the public soon, adding that the ivory bowl dates back to the Copper Age.
The website pointed out that the restoration of the vessel went through a complex process, and it will be displayed the day following tomorrow, Thursday, at the Israeli Society conference in Jerusalem.
According to the Israel Antiquities Authority, the discovery indicates ancient trade relations between Egypt and Palestine that existed 6,000 years ago.
The Hebrew website noted that the site where the bowl was found began excavations in 2020 near Beersheba, where an ancient settlement was uncovered that included underground spaces dug into the ground. During recent excavations, the presence of ivory and basalt vessels was noted.
The ivory bowl was discovered inside large basalt bowls, and the fact that the bowl was broken in ancient times and buried carefully indicates its importance, most likely.
Dr. Yanir Milevsky, one of the Israeli researchers, said: “From the way the vessels were placed, it is clear that the ivory vessel was broken in ancient times and buried carefully, which most likely indicates the importance attributed to it.”
The size of the discovered vessel is regarding 20 cm. Milevsky explained: “The small handles on its sides are designed symmetrically, one above the other, with two handles near the neck of the vessel, and two other handles near its base.”
The researchers said: “This discovery enhances our understanding of the Copper Age, and of the cultural and commercial ties of the region with neighboring and distant cultures, most notably Egypt.”
“One of the interesting questions regarding the tool is whether it was brought here in its original form, or whether the elephant tusk was brought to the lands of Palestine as a raw material,” said Avishai Levy, director of the excavations and Dr. Milevsky.
Source: davar1
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2024-04-09 14:24:34
