The Israel Museum, located in Jerusalem is showing an exhibit that features some of the oldest masks ever found. Eleven stone carved masks from an estimated 9 thousand years ago that were found in the Judean desert and an area of hills near the city of Jerusalem will be on display for the next seven months.
The Israel Museum, located in Jerusalem is showing an exhibit that features some of the oldest masks ever found.
Eleven carved stone masks estimated to be around 9 thousand years old, and found in the Judean desert and hills near the city of Jerusalem, will be on display for the next seven months.
The age of the masks was determined using a carbon-14 dating technique.
Each mask has unique facial features, and is made to look like a skull.
Researchers analyzed the masks and determined that some of them were worn on people’s faces, during ancient ritual practices.
James Snyder, director of the Israel Museum is quoted as saying: “When you go back to objects that are this old, that are so much before the theology that becomes Judaism, Christianity and then Islam, to feel that there is a kind of a connection, that this is all part of a continuous story, is something that is pretty thrilling.”
Visitors to the exhibit are reportedly encouraged to take photos of themselves posing with the masks.
