Israeli archaeologists unearth 12,000-year-old shaman skeleton
The grave, which also held 50 tortoise shells, a leopard pelvis and a human foot, is thought to be one of earliest burial sites of a shaman on archeological record and is the first of its kind found in the Middle East, said Leore Grosman, the archeologist at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem who led the excavation.
She said that the precise way the shaman, who was about 45 at the time of her death, was buried and the type of objects buried with her suggests her high standing in the community.
"Clearly a great amount of time and energy was invested in the preparation, arrangement, and sealing of the grave," said Miss Grosman, noting the body was placed in an unusual way – laid out on its side and its legs folded inward at the knees.
It was then covered with 10 large stones, either to keep wild animals away, speculated Miss Grosman, or as part of efforts by the community to keep the shaman's spirit inside the grave.
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She said that the precise way the shaman, who was about 45 at the time of her death, was buried and the type of objects buried with her suggests her high standing in the community.
"Clearly a great amount of time and energy was invested in the preparation, arrangement, and sealing of the grave," said Miss Grosman, noting the body was placed in an unusual way – laid out on its side and its legs folded inward at the knees.
It was then covered with 10 large stones, either to keep wild animals away, speculated Miss Grosman, or as part of efforts by the community to keep the shaman's spirit inside the grave.