9,000-Year-Old Neolithic Stone Masks on Display in Jerusalem

An extremely rare group of the oldest stone masks dating some 9,000-years-old, which originated in the Land of Israel, is on a display at the Israel Museum, Jerusalem.

This exhibition that started March 11 displays 12 of the oldest known stone masks that originated from the Judean Hills near the Judean Desert. The presentation of these masks involves research work of more than a decade. The 12 masks with large eye holes and wide mouth openings mimic a human skull. Each of these masks share a remarkable stylistic feature.

The exhibition "Face to Face: The Oldest Masks in the World" represents the Neolithic masks and will be on view until Sep 13, 2014. This is the first time that a majority of these stone masks have been kept on display together at their birthplace.

"It is extraordinary to be able to present side by side this rare group of ancient stone masks, all originating from the same region in the ancient Land of Israel," said James S. Snyder, Anne and Jerome Fisher Director of the Israel Museum, in a statement. "That we have been able to assemble so many - first for intensive comparative research and then for display - is a tribute to the collections that were so cooperative in making these treasures available to us. And, given their origins in the region and the context provided by the adjacent setting of our Archaeology Wing, their display in our Museum in Jerusalem carries special meaning, underscoring their place in the unfolding history of religion and art."

The 2-4 pound face masks carved out of limestone are assumed to represent the ancestors of early Stone Age religion and were probably used in magic and healing rites, especially ceremonies celebrating the deceased. Most of these artifacts are the stone portraits of the dead and have holes at the outer edge, indicating that they were hung using cords,according to Discovery News.

Reports according to the Associated Press suggest that the stone mask was created during the agricultural revolution when hunter gatherers drifted from thier regular lifestyle to become farmers. The holy land was one of the key regions of agricultural revolution. The researchers are calling the mask-makers, founders of civilization.

The Israel Museum is home to just two stone masks, one that was discovered near a cave at Nahal Hemar, Judean Desert, and the other that came from Horvat Duma, near the Judean Hills.

Similar photographs of the Neolithic stone masks were found by Dr. Debby Hershmans who then approached Judy and Michael Steinhardt, New York. They agreed to loan Hershmans the face masks.

With the help of Yuval Goren, an expert in comparative microarcharology, Tel Aviv University, Hershmans plans to investigate the geographical origin of the facemask and also conduct 3D analysis that will offer clues on the features and function of the stone masks.

The museum is welcoming people to take a look at the eerie collection of Neolithic face masks.