‘Magical’ Artifacts Found in the Eilat Mountains

The excavation area in the Eilat hills of Israel. Credit Itamar Taxel, Israel Antiquities Authority

Israeli archeologists believe they found magical artifacts in the Eilat Mountains above the city at the bottom of south Israel.

In 2019, a team of Israeli archaeologists published a study in the journal Journal of Material Cultures in the Muslim World that analyzed a collection of artifacts found in the Eilat mountains near the Red Sea. The 400-year-old magical artifacts were found along the ancient Darb al-Hajj route, used by pilgrims traveling from Egypt to Mecca.

The artifacts included dozens of fragments of round clay rattles containing small stones, two miniature incense altars, a small figurine of a naked woman, additional figurines, and colored quartz pebbles. The archaeologists believe that these artifacts were used for magic rituals, such as warding off the evil eye, healing diseases, and ensuring a safe journey.

The clay rattles were likely used to make noise during rituals. The sound of the rattles would have been believed to scare away evil spirits and protect the pilgrims. The miniature incense altars were probably used to burn incense, which would have also been used to ward off evil spirits.

The figurine of the naked woman is thought to represent a goddess or a fertility figure. Pilgrims may have invoked her to help them conceive or ensure a safe childbirth. The other figurines may have represented other deities or spirits that were believed to be able to help the pilgrims.

The colored quartz pebbles may have been used in divination rituals. Divination is trying to foretell the future by interpreting signs and symbols. The pilgrims may have used the pebbles to cast lots or to read their fortunes.

The discovery of these artifacts provides new insights into the religious practices of pilgrims who traveled to Mecca centuries ago. It also shows that magic and ritual were important parts of these practices.

The artifacts are currently on display at the Eilat Museum.

This marks the second magical artifacts discovery made recently by archeologists in Israel. In August, A young youth group leader discovered an ancient “magical mirror” in an archaeological excavation in northern Israel. Seventeen-year-old Aviv Weizman from Kiryat Motskin, near Haifa, took part in an Israel Antiquities Authority archaeological excavation at the ancient site of Usha, as part of the Young Leaders’ Survival Course, and uncovered an exceptional find from the Byzantine period—a 1,500-year-old “magical mirror.”

Clay female figurine found at the excavation area in the Eilat hills of Israel. Credit Clara Amit, Israel Antiquities Authority

Now, the researchers consider that these artifacts were employed in magical rituals carried out to ward off the evil eye, heal diseases, and more.

• The clay rattles were made of a type of clay that is not found in the Eilat region, suggesting that they were brought from Egypt. The rattles are about the size of table tennis balls and contain small stones that make a noise when they are shaken. The archaeologists believe that the rattles were used to make noise during rituals to scare away evil spirits.
• The miniature incense altars are about the size of a hand and are made of clay. They have a small bowl in the center for burning incense. The archaeologists believe that the incense altars were used to burn incense during rituals to ward off evil spirits and to invoke the help of deities.
• The figurine of the naked woman is made of clay and is about 10 centimeters tall. She is depicted with her hands raised above her head, which is a characteristic feature of deities or priests. The archaeologists believe that the figurine represents a goddess or a fertility figure. She may have been invoked by pilgrims to help them conceive or to ensure a safe childbirth.
• The other figurines are also made of clay and represent various animals, such as a lion, a snake, and a bird. These animals may have been associated with different deities or spirits that were believed to be able to help the pilgrims.
• The colored quartz pebbles are small and smooth, and they come in a variety of colors, such as red, green, and blue. The archaeologists believe that the pebbles were used in divination rituals to foretell the future. The pilgrims may have used the pebbles to cast lots or to read their fortunes.

Clay rattle fragments found at the excavation area in the Eilat hills of Israel. Credit Clara Amit, Israel Antiquities AuthorityAccording to Dr. Omry Barzilai, Southern Regional Archaeologist of the Israel Antiquities Authority, the “Darb el-Haj” road runs through the municipal boundaries of Eilat. The Ministry of Tourism is promoting the road and nearby archaeological sites as a special regional archaeological-touristic area. The Israel Antiquities Authority will undertake the development and accessibility of the road and intends to organize educational activities for the public emphasizing its cultural heritage role”.

Part of the pilgrim route in the Eilat mountains. Photo: Uzi Avner, Dead Sea-Arava Science Center