Overview
- The palm-sized statuette was excavated at Nahal Ein Gev II near the Sea of Galilee and reassembled from three fragments found in a stone structure with burials and ceremonial deposits.
- Researchers identify it as the earliest known figurine depicting a human interacting with an animal and the first naturalistic female likeness in Southwest Asia.
- Microscopic and chemical analyses show the use of local clay fired to about 400°C, traces of red ochre pigment, and a preserved fingerprint likely left by the sculptor.
- The composition shows a goose perched on a woman's back and was modeled to be viewed under directional light, indicating deliberate staging and narrative intent.
- The authors favor an animistic or mythic interpretation, while external experts suggest alternatives such as an attack or transported prey and call for cautious reading.