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A Reconsideration of the ‘Ain Sakhri’ Figurine

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 February 2014

Brian Boyd  and
Jill Cook
Brian Boyd
Affiliation:
Corpus Christi College, Cambridge CB2 1RH
Jill Cook
Affiliation:
British Museum, Department of Prehistoric and Romano British Antiquities, Quaternary Section, Franks' House, 38–46 Orsman Road, London N1 5QJ
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Abstract

The calcite figurine of a human couple in coitus said to be from Ain Sakhri in Judea has been interpreted as a symbol of fertility reflecting the economic and social concerns of the Natufian period. This paper presents a critical history surrounding its discovery, an evaluation of its archaeological context and a description of the piece itself, in order to address the broader issues surrounding its interpretation.

Type
Research Article
Information
Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society , Volume 59 , Issue 1 , 1993 , pp. 399 - 405
Copyright
Copyright © The Prehistoric Society 1993

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