In what is being described as Jerusalem’s most significant excavation in decades, archaeologists have discovered a rare Judean pillar figurine mold dating to the First Temple period. The Jerusalem Post reports that, based on a reconstruction by the Israel Antiquities Authority, the mold forms the face of a woman with clearly defined features and a curly hairstyle. Experts say the discovery helps answer the long-standing question of whether these figurines were produced in ancient Israel or imported. However, their exact purpose remains a mystery.
Made of clay, these figurines are often between approximately 10 and 20 centimeters high. They are typically covered in a white coating, though surviving traces of pigment indicate they were originally painted in yellow, red, and black.
When discovered, these clay figurines are often found broken at the neck – a result of the manufacturing technique, in which the head and body were made separately by hand, while only the face was formed using a mold.
“The mold was discovered while sifting soil removed from fills and accumulations dating to the First Temple period,” explained IAA Excavation Directors Dr. Amit Re’em and Dr. Ayala Zilberstein. “The Kishle excavation, which has been ongoing for several years, continues to surprise us time and again.”
“[The mold] is one of the most significant archaeological excavations conducted in Jerusalem in recent decades, presenting the city’s history in a clear and continuous sequence, from the days of the Kings of Judah, through the many periods that shaped Jerusalem, and up to the British Mandate.”
Scholars have proposed several theories about the purpose of figurines like this. Some believe they represented a fertility goddess. Others suggest they were simply children’s toys. Another theory is that they were used to bless homes and their inhabitants with good fortune.
Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu said, “The discovery of a mold for producing figurines from the First Temple period in the heart of Jerusalem offers us a tangible glimpse into the world in which the prophets of Israel lived and into the spiritual and cultural realities they confronted.”