3,800-year old ancestor of Rodin’s ‘The Thinker’ statuette

[Skywizard]

• Jug was found by a team of Israeli archaeologists and high school students
• Other items were found such as daggers, arrowheads, an axe head
• The collection of artefacts appear to be funeral offerings, says expert

An unusual 3,800-year-old pottery jug, bearing a statuette of a person who appears deep in thought, has been discovered in Israel.

The ancient piece of crockery was found by a team of archaeologists and students during an excavation in Yehud, a Tel Aviv suburb.

It bears a striking resemblance to The Thinker, Auguste Rodin's famous sculpture.

Journalists are shown a 3,800 year-old pottery jug with a rare statuette,
discovered during excavation in central Israel, at the Israel Antiquities
Authority offices in Jerusalem

The jug, which features a figure sat with knees bent and head rested on hand dates back to the the Middle Bronze Age, according to the Israel Antiquities Authority.

'It seems that at first the jug, which is typical of the period, was prepared and afterwards the unique sculpture was added, the likes of which have never before been discovered in previous research,' said Gilad Itach, who directed the excavation.

The statuette is about 7 inches (18 cm) tall, much smaller than Rodin's sculpture, which stands at around 73 inches 186 cm.

'One can see that the face of the figure seems to be resting on its hand as if in a state of reflection,' he said.

Other vessels and metal items were found such as daggers, arrowheads, an axe head, sheep bones and what are believed to be the bones of a donkey.

Itach said the collection seemed to be funeral offerings, likely of an important member of an ancient community.

'To the best of my knowledge such a rich funerary assemblage that also includes such a unique pottery vessel has never before been discovered in the country,' he said.

Conservationist Elisheva Kamaisky, shows journalists the jug with its
rare statuette, at the Israel Antiquities Authority. Pictured right is one
of many reproductions of Rodin's The Thinker, to which the statue
bears an uncanny resemblance

Other vessels and metal items were found alongside the statuette, such
as daggers, arrowheads, an axe head, sheep bones and what are believed
to be the bones of a donkey

The statuette was the latest discovery by the Israel Antiquities Authority, which is charged with carrying out excavations at all major building sites across the country to make sure no relics are destroyed.




Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencete...ed-Israel.html


peace...

[Satori]

Nice post. I get a sense more of Jack Benny's famous gesture and expression then Rodin's The Thinker.