tour 19 of 26
Agatha Christie and archaeology
Alabaster head
The Grey Eye Temple at Tell Brak had been
heavily plundered late in the third millenium BC. Because temples
were places where valuable offerings were either left for the gods
or buried in the structure of the building, they were common
targets for robbers. Mallowan came across many of the earlier
plunderer's tunnels, cutting through the remains of the
earlier temples. In these he recovered a large quantity of objects
that had been left behind, including this small
head.
Current dating makes
the head one of the earliest pieces of human sculpture ever found.
It is likely that it originally had attachments, perhaps of
precious metals and stones. A headdress may have been attached over
the hair, which is shown with a centre parting. The eyebrows join
over the nose, a typical feature of Mesopotamian sculpture. A
vertical groove at the back of the head with nail holes on the
sides suggests it was originally attached to a
pole.
There is nothing to
indicate whether it represents a god, goddess or
worshipper.