Plastered Skull from Jericho

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by Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin
published on 19 February 2019

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Plastered Skull from Jericho — People invented plaster during the Neolithic period by burning limestone. This new material was used in daily life and for cultic practices. A new tradition also appeared then, that of plastering skulls of the deceased, which were removed after burial when the flesh had decayed. The face was molded onto the skull with plaster and shells were placed as eyes and lined with bitumen. These skulls were kept inside houses; therefore, they may represent an ancestral cult. Pre-Pottery Neolithic B, 8800-6900 BCE. From Jericho, modern-day Palestinian Territories. (The Jordan Museum, Amman, Jordan).

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About the Author

Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin

Associate Professor of Neurology and lover of the Cradle of Civilization, Mesopotamia. I'm very interested in Mesopotamian history and always try to take photos of archaeological sites and artifacts in museums, both in Iraq and around the world.

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APA Style

Amin, O. S. M. (2019, February 19). Plastered Skull from Jericho. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/image/10055/plastered-skull-from-jericho/

Chicago Style

Amin, Osama Shukir Muhammed. "Plastered Skull from Jericho." World History Encyclopedia. Last modified February 19, 2019. https://www.worldhistory.org/image/10055/plastered-skull-from-jericho/.

MLA Style

Amin, Osama Shukir Muhammed. "Plastered Skull from Jericho." World History Encyclopedia. World History Encyclopedia, 19 Feb 2019. Web. 04 Mar 2025.