12,000-Year-Old Woman-Goose Figurine Reveals Ancient Mythological Beliefs in Prehistoric Israel

Nov 18, 2025 01:35 pm CST

Archaeologists have discovered a 12,000-year-old clay figurine depicting a woman and goose in what may be one of the world's earliest mythological scenes. Found at a prehistoric Natufian settlement in Israel, this remarkable artifact offers unprecedented insights into ancient symbolic expression, spiritual beliefs, and artistic techniques from the crucial transition period between nomadic and settled human societies.