Berekhat Ram Figurine: Earliest Anthropomorphic Carving
c. 280,000-250,000 BCE · Prehistoric
Between 280,000 and 250,000 BCE, early humans at Berekhat Ram in the Golan Heights modified a small volcanic tuff piece (35mm long) to enhance its resemblance to a human female form. Microscopic analysis revealed deliberate tool marks carved around the neck and arms. Found in an Acheulian context, the figurine predates Homo sapiens emergence, indicating that earlier human ancestors—possibly late Homo erectus or early archaic Homo sapiens—recognized and enhanced natural forms to create representational objects.
Key Figures
Naama Goren-InbarAlexander Marshack
Locations
Berekhat Ram
Topics
artancient historyancientarchaeologysymbolsprehistoric
Connected Events — 2 Connections
The Berekhat Ram figurine represents an earlier stage in the evolution of symbolic representation, demonstrating that the cognitive capacity for creating abstract symbols at Blombos had deep prehistoric roots in figurative recognition and enhancement Earliest Abstract Engravings at Blombos Cave
Enabled the cognitive leap from abstract geometric patterns to representational art by establishing the neural pathways for symbolic manipulation that later hominins applied to figurative representation Trinil Shell Engravings by Homo erectus
The Time Detectives® · Cadet Mission
Investigate This Event
Place it on the timeline. Earn points. Master the connections.
New to The Time Detectives?
Learn what it is →