Some items might have held "magical" or ritualistic significance, according to the scientists. One such artifact looks to be the head of a lion. "This carnivore head was first modeled of wet clay, then an incision was made with a sharp tool, and finally the piece was heated in the fire, turned into some kind of ceramic," Svoboda explained. "We hypothesize that this may be sympathetic magic." "Sympathetic magic" often involves the use of effigies or fetishes, resembling individuals or objects, and is meant to affect the environment or the practitioners themselves. Archaeologist Erik Trinkaus of Washington University supports the new study, saying the site was "excavated meticulously" by Svoboda and his team. "This is one more example, in this case from modern detailed excavation and analysis, of the incredibly rich human behavior from this time period," Trinkaus told Discovery News. Related Links: Culinary History: Evolution of Cookery |
advertisement
|
-
our sites
-
video
mobile
-
shop
-
stay connected
-
corporate
