Ostrich eggs up to 7,500 years old found next to ancient fire pit in Israel - CNN

CNN  — 

A well-known riddle compares an ovum to treasure, asking: A container without hinges, cardinal oregon a lid, yet wrong aureate treasure is hid. What americium I?

And for archaeologists successful Israel, 8 prehistoric ostrich eggs – thought to beryllium betwixt 4,000 and 7,500 years aged – proved arsenic invaluable arsenic treasure erstwhile they were discovered adjacent an past occurrence pit successful the Negev, a godforsaken portion successful the southbound of the country.

They were discovered during an archaeological excavation successful the cultivation fields of Be’er Milka, the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) announced connected Thursday.

The eggs’ proximity to the occurrence pit suggests that they were collected intentionally by the prehistoric godforsaken nomads who utilized the campsite, according to a property merchandise from IAA, though further laboratory investigation volition supply much accusation astir their uses and age.

“We recovered a campsite, which extends implicit astir 200 sq. m (2,153 quadrate feet) that was utilized by the godforsaken nomads since prehistoric times,” Lauren Davis, the IAA excavation director, said successful the release.

“At the tract we recovered burnt stones, flint and chromatic tools arsenic good arsenic pottery sherds, but the genuinely peculiar find is this postulation of ostrich eggs. Although the nomads did not physique imperishable structures astatine this site, the finds let america to consciousness their beingness successful the desert.”

Davis added that the campsites were covered implicit by the dunes, keeping the eggs exceptionally well-preserved.

The IAA, which told CNN connected Thursday the tract had been excavated successful the past week, said that ostriches were communal successful the portion until they became extinct successful the chaotic during the 19th century.

Their eggs were ornately decorated and were prized items among the elite circles of Mediterranean civilizations during the Bronze and Iron Ages.

As good arsenic being utilized arsenic decorative items, ostrich eggs were besides utilized successful funerals, arsenic h2o canteens and arsenic a root of food.

“We find ostrich eggs successful archaeological sites successful funerary contexts, and arsenic luxury items and water-canteens. Naturally, they were utilized arsenic a root of food: 1 ostrich ovum has the nutritional worth of astir 25 mean chickenhearted eggs,” said Amir Gorzalczany, elder probe archaeologist from IAA, successful the release.

“It is interesting, that whilst ostrich eggs are not uncommon successful excavations, the bones of the ample vertebrate are not found. This whitethorn bespeak that successful the past world, radical avoided tackling the ostrich and were contented with collecting their eggs.”