Mysterious turtle sculpture found in a Holy Land cave 35,000 years later: people may have worshipped it

Researchers have discovered a mysterious stone sculpture in the shape of a turtle in the cave of the Holy Land of Manot, located in the Galilee region of northern Israel. Archaeologists believe that people could have worshiped it 35 thousand years ago.

The stone block, which measures about 20 cm and weighs 28 kg, has characteristic grooves that look like natural marks on a turtle's shell. Since turtles have long been considered an important "cosmic symbol," it could have been involved in ancient rituals, DailyMail writes.

Researchers have already found interesting artifacts in Manot Cave. In particular, in 2015, they identified a 55,000-year-old skull, which provided evidence that modern humans lived and even mated with Neanderthals.

Experts speculate that Neanderthals already worshipped turtle figures as part of communal rituals before they went extinct and Homo sapiens adopted the practice.

Scientists from the University of Haifa in Israel and Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, who studied the found turtle block, say it dates back 35,000 years. This means that it was made by an intelligent human, not a Neanderthal.

"It could have represented a totem or spiritual figure. Its particular location, away from daily activities at the entrance to the cave, suggests that it was an object of worship," said Omri Barzilai, author of the study and head of the Paleo Laboratory of Material Culture at the University of Haifa.

Experts say the secret spot "in the deepest and darkest part" of the cave where the mysterious turtle-shaped boulder was found was used as a gathering place, possibly for rituals that "increased social cohesion."

The turtle sculpture was originally carved from a dolomite boulder and deliberately placed in a niche in the cave. According to the researchers, the engraved boulder stood out because it showed key "geometric marks indicating a unique representation of the turtle."

An analysis of the cross-section of the grooves and the noticeable presence of tiny scratches on the walls of the grooves confirmed their anthropogenic origin, experts say.

According to the experts, turtles have historically been a "cosmic symbol in various cultures." "In Mayan symbolism, the turtle shell symbolizes the earth," the researchers say.

It is also a well-known fact that among the indigenous peoples of North America, it was believed that the world was created on the back of a turtle. "The turtle, which is characterized by a special body shape and slow movement, is seen as the embodiment of the entire cosmos, symbolizing perseverance, strength, power, and stability in space and time," the scientists added.

As for the Mano Cave, experts note its natural acoustics, favorable for large gatherings. Evidence of wood ash on the walls suggests that prehistoric people carried torches to light the dark rooms of the cave.

The researchers emphasize that the new discoveries reveal more about the Manot Cave and its ancient inhabitants.

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