Ancient masks, created thousands of years ago, have just gone on display in Jerusalem. These are the oldest masks known to archeologists. These 11 ghoulish faces were first shown to the public on March 11.
The masks are believed to be 9,000 years old, created during the Neolithic, or new stone age, period. This would mean the masks date to a time before the invention of writing. They were discovered in the Judean desert near Jerusalem. Archeologists believe they were made in the area long before the rise of modern religions. At this time in that region, humans were changing their lifestyles. Hunters and gatherers began to farm, raising crops and animals.
Archeologists speculate these costume pieces were designed to look like skulls, possibly signifying death. One of the masks is said to have a striking resemblance to the face mask made famous by Hannibal Lecter in Silence of the Lambs.
For ten years, researchers have been conducting carbon 14 dating on the relics, comparing them to other findings, in order to determine their age.
Although some masks are used for purely decorative purposes in temples and other buildings, computer analysis indicates these masks were likely worn by people in the past.
Ancient cave drawings show people adorned with masks, but the actual artifacts are extremely rare. This may be because most of these items were made from biodegradeable materials, which fell apart over centuries. These 11 masks were formed from stone, allowing them to survive intact until our time.
As society changed the basis by which they lived, community leaders may have found a need to bring people together through rituals and ceremonies. This could be the reason the masks were crafted. Researchers speculate they may have been designed to look like ancient ancestors, or perhaps famous people from that ancient land.
Most ancient masks wind up in the hands of collectors. At one point, one of the masks belonged to the late Israeli leader Moshe Dayan. An avid antiques collector, he signed his name to the back of one of the ancient relics. Another of the artifacts was discovered during an excavation.
Debby Hershman, the curator of the Israeli museum, was exploring photographs belonging to the institution when she stumbled across photos of three masks, not currently part of their collection. The museum owned two of the masks. Upon closer examination, Hershman found the owners of the trio of masks - Judy and Michael Steinhardt of New York. The amateur antique collectors agreed to lend the ancient artifacts to the museum for display and research.
Unlike many museums, the Israeli Museum encourages people to pose for pictures with the items, giving everyone a chance for the ultimate creepy selfie.
