Mysterious 9,000-Year-Old Mask Excavated in Israel Stuns Experts

Archaeologists believe that the rare stone artifact uncovered in southern West Bank was used in ancient times as a worship tool during a pivotal period in Neolithic culture.

The stone mask has been linked to the start of an agricultural society and is one of only 15 in the world.

As explained by experts from the Isreal Antiquities Authority (IAA), the intricate mask was excavated by archaeologists in a field near Pnei Hever, a West Bank settlement east of Hebron. The mask was handed over to Israeli authorities in early 2018. Read the free article.