During excavations in Jordan, archaeologists uncovered a child’s grave containing a remarkable necklace that has since disintegrated into thousands of beads. According to researchers, this burial dates back 9,000 years.
The Girl with the Neolithic Necklace
As noted by the head of the archaeological team, Khalil Alarashi, the shape of the child’s jaw suggests that she was likely an 8-year-old girl. However, the bones are so deteriorated over time that it’s difficult to assert anything else about her with certainty.
The remaining beads provide some insight into who the girl from the burial might have been and the cultural practices of the society to which she belonged. It can be inferred that the people who once lived in this Neolithic settlement of Bajja cared deeply about the burial of their children.
The beads were scattered across the child’s chest and neck. Archaeologists counted more than 2,500 beads in the grave. Some were made of turquoise, others of calcite, and some of hematite. Most of the beads had a reddish hue.
Amid the chaotic remnants of the necklace, a faint but distinct pattern emerged. Each series of a dozen disc-shaped beads was preceded by two tubular beads. Due to their careful arrangement, researchers concluded that they were either strung or sewn onto clothing, or perhaps affixed to the body.
Archaeologists also discovered a mother-of-pearl ring and a double pendant with several beads still connected. The latter provided a glimpse into what the scattered necklace might have looked like. Bead by bead, the scientists reconstructed a stunning ornament with exquisite patterns.
The Bajja Settlement and Its Burials
The Bajja settlement was likely inhabited between 7400 and 6600 B.C. Despite its small area, the site is rich in archaeological remains. Accessing the mountainous plateau where it is located requires navigating a labyrinth of winding canyons and vertical rock formations.
Archaeologists note that not everyone who lived in this Neolithic settlement was buried there. Only a few graves have been found beneath the houses of Bajja. Most contain infants and children buried with numerous grave goods.
The grave of the 8-year-old girl with the necklace was discovered by Bajja researchers back in 2018. The results of their meticulous excavations have now been published. According to Mr. Alarashi in an interview with Sciencealert, the necklace and other ornaments likely formed a specific adornment on the child’s body, which gradually deteriorated after decomposition.
The Oldest Impressive Necklace
Archaeologists add that this necklace has no parallels among other finds in the historical region of the Levant. The beads were chosen for their color harmony, and the ornament itself astonishes with the meticulous symmetry of the beads. All of this can be seen as signs of great wealth and prosperity among the people who lived in this area 9,000 years ago.
A true masterpiece of this necklace is the mother-of-pearl ring. It is large and extraordinarily elegant, and it likely once dazzled with iridescent colors.
The surface of this ornament is engraved with extraordinary precision and skill, featuring delicate patterns reminiscent of filigree. According to the authors of this study, the aesthetic sensitivity here is undeniable. The substantial volume of beads, their intricate ornamentation, harmony, and beauty evoke decorations that appeared much later in Mesopotamia and Egypt.
As archaeologists point out, their in-depth analysis of the collection has allowed for a re-evaluation of one of the oldest and most remarkable ornaments. It is believed to have been created specifically for this 8-year-old child.
Despite its incredibly complex and sophisticated design, such a necklace was not made for trade or exchange. Rather, it was likely part of the child’s burial and held a special significance in the funerary culture of that time. Currently, the reconstruction of this remarkable ornament is on display at the New Petra Museum in Jordan.