Skip Navigation

Carved cave turtle may have been worshipped 35,000 years before Christianity

www.telegraph.co.uk Carved cave turtle may have been worshipped 35,000 years before Christianity

Sculpture found in Galilee was made with human tools and could be a ‘totem or spiritual figure,’ experts say

Summary

A 35,000-year-old carved turtle sculpture, discovered deep in Manot Cave, Israel, may represent the earliest evidence of religious behavior in the Levant.

Found in a secluded chamber possibly used for rituals, the dolomite boulder was intentionally placed and shaped with flint tools, suggesting its use as a totem or spiritual figure.

Turtles hold symbolic significance in global mythologies, often representing longevity and strength.

The discovery highlights the ritual practices of prehistoric humans and adds to Manot Cave's significance, already known for evidence of Neanderthal-human interbreeding.

25
World News @lemmit.online Lemmit.Online bot @lemmit.online
BOT
Carved turtle found in Galilee cave may have been worshipped 35,000 years before Christianity
25 comments
You've viewed 25 comments.