Wednesday, April 4, 2012

The Oldest Mask

This stone mask from the Hirbat Duma neolithic site in Israel is 8,000 to 9,000 years old, and it may be the oldest mask yet found.

2 comments:

  1. I learn so much by just reading your posts; they're all really interesting! Thank you for updating so frequently. I was just wondering, do you know what this mask was used for?

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  2. No, nor does anybody else. It was found in a pit. However, around the world masks are most often worn in religious rites, or at special festivals.

    This mask looks scary to me. Can I push that interpretation back 8,000 years and say that this must represent an angry or avenging spirit, one that had to be placated in ritual or driven away? I don't know, but I would like to think so.

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