‘Barcode’ on ancient figurine baffles archaeologists
(ORDO NEWS) — In Germany, archaeologists discovered a unique ceramic figurine during excavations at the site of a prehistoric settlement.
It depicts a certain creature, the identification of which led scientists to a dead end, and bears a linear pattern resembling a barcode.
According to Heritage Daily, the figurine was found at a site near the city of Schweinfurt, where a settlement was located between the eighth and sixth centuries BC. Archaeologists previously dated the found artifact to the same period.
From a press release from the Bavarian State Office for the Protection of Monuments, it follows that the figurine puzzled the experts and puzzled them. She has no analogues.
Only remotely similar works of ancient art were previously found in the Black Sea region, and those artifacts were several millennia older than the Bavarian one.
So far, scientists agree only that the figurine could be a cult. Perhaps people worshiped her as a deity associated with water.
Scientists explain that the place where the figurine was found “speaks of its function as a cult object, closely associated with water.”
“It is possible that people at that time considered this special picturesque place sacred, and that a small figurine served them as a ritual offering or was even credited with magical powers,” says Professor Matthias Pfeil, head of the Bavarian Museum.
Experts were struck by the finely modeled face of the sculpture: eye sockets, nose, lips and chin are clearly visible.
Its height is only 19 centimeters, although initially, according to scientists, it was about ten centimeters higher – the sculpture did not have legs.
The figurine is filigree molded of clay, but the shape of the body does not give any idea of what gender this “deity” was.
Attention is drawn to a large flat head, along the edges of which five holes are drilled on each side.
Archaeologists suggest that the edges of the head, literally riddled with small holes, could represent a kind of hood, which in ancient times could be decorated, for example, with metal rings. Such headdresses are usually attributed to female goddesses.
The pattern carved on the surface of the figurine is also extremely unusual. It resembles a clay stamp, a kind of ancient barcode.
By the way, scientists do not exclude that the figurine could really be used as a stamp. With the help of such a simple device, people could brand their products, for example, bread.
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