The Discovery
An international research team has examined 142 ancient clay beads discovered across five sites in Israel, four of which were once home to the Natufian culture. Ranging from 11,650 to 15,000 years old, these unbaked clay items push back the timeline for when human cultures first began making decorative personal objects. Published in Science Advances and supported by researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the study reveals that hunter-gatherers molded personal ornaments long before using clay for functional pottery like bowls or jars, and well before the widespread adoption of agriculture.
What Scientists Found
The small ornaments fit easily in the palm of a hand and provide rare physical traces of their creators. Key details from the study include:
- Varied Styles: Researchers identified 19 distinct bead types, which were shaped into cylinders, discs, and ellipses.
- Plant Inspiration: The beads were sculpted to mimic plants prominent in Natufian life, including wild barley, einkorn wheat, lentils, and peas. Preserved traces of plant fibers show how the ornaments were strung and worn.
- Early Coloring Technique: Many items were coated in red ochre using a method called engobe, where a thin layer of liquid clay was smoothed onto the surface. This represents the earliest known instance of this coloring technique anywhere in the world.
- Fingerprint Evidence: Scientists preserved 50 fingerprints on the beads left by children, adolescents, and adults. Some creations were likely tailored for young people, including a tiny clay ring under half an inch wide.
Why It Matters
These artifacts demonstrate that symbolic traditions and complex social expressions began much earlier than previously understood, taking root while human groups were still hunting, gathering, and beginning to establish permanent settlements. Because people of all ages participated in making the beads, crafting was an everyday community event. It served as a key method for teaching younger generations, enabling children to learn through imitation and helping pass cultural values down through time across Southwest Asia.
Source: ancient civilization archaeology discovery - BingNews · Published September 27, 2026