- Archaeologists have found that the skeleton of the child was naturally mummified in the dry cave.
- The “cave of horror” got its name from the 40 skeletons found during excavations in the 1960s.
- A CT scan revealed that the child was between 6 and 12 years old and was presumably a girl.
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Archaeologists have discovered the 6,000-year-old skeleton of a child in the “cave of abominations” in Israel’s Jewish desert, next to the ancient Dead Sea Scrolls, as well as the world’s oldest basket.
The “cave of horror” got its name from the 40 skeletons found during excavations in the 1960s. Researchers have found that the remains of the child were naturally mummified in the dry atmosphere of the cave which can only be climbed by ropes.
A CT scan revealed that the child, who partially preserved skin, tendons and even hair, was between 6 and 12 years old and according to Smithsonian Magazine was presumably a girl.
The prehistorian Ronit Lupu of the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) said in a statement: ‘It was clear that everyone who buried the child was wrapped up. [them] up and press the edges of the cloth under [them], just like a parent covers it [their] child in a blanket. A small bundle of cloth was clasped in the child’s hands. ‘
The skeleton was found along with ancient Dead Sea Scrolls, which is one of the earliest texts ever written in Hebrew.
The archaeologist Naama Sukenik of the Israeli Antiquities Authority (IAA) in the Naama Sukenik shows on 16 March 2021 the oldest basket in the world in Jerusalem.
Menahem Kahana / AFP via Getty Images
The newly discovered fragments of the 2000-year-old scrolls are Greek translations from the biblical books of Nahum and Zechariah, found in the Book of the 12 Little Prophets in the Jewish Tanakh.
However, the only Hebrew included in the text is the name of God, The Independent noted, and it is suspected that the scrolls were hidden during a Jewish uprising against Rome, NBC News added.
The world’s oldest basket dating to 10,000 years ago has also been found, as well as arrowheads and coins believed to have been in other caves from the Bar Kochba uprising, The Guardian reports.
Authorities ordered the 2017 excavation following reports of looting by looters, The Guardian noted.