Overview
- Excavated at Nahal Ein Gev II near the Sea of Galilee, the 3.7 cm clay piece shows a goose positioned over a crouching woman in a naturalistic scene.
- Microscopic and chemical tests indicate local clay fired to about 400°C with red ocher residues and a preserved sculptor’s fingerprint.
- The modeling emphasizes the left profile so light from sun or hearth would animate the interaction, suggesting deliberate staging for display.
- Recovered from the fill of a semicircular stone structure with burials and ritual deposits, the context supports a ceremonial interpretation by the authors.
- The PNAS study identifies it as the earliest known human–animal interaction figurine and the oldest naturalistic portrayal of a woman in Southwest Asian art.