Archaeologists have found hundreds of clay female statues and sacrificial objects dating back to in the 7th century BC., unraveling the mystery of initiation rituals for young girls.
At the ancient settlement of Anavolochos, on a mountainside in Crete, Greece, experts from the University of Cincinnati unexpectedly discovered hundreds of strange objects. Photo: @UniversityofCincinn.
These are hundreds of small statues and clay tablets used in religious rituals, hidden within the crevices of the rocks.
All of them are female statues, which is why the researchers called them "The Ladies of Anavolchos".
These are clay offerings buried at this site that date back to the 7th century BC and are all broken..
Researchers still do not know whether these fragments were broken intentionally as part of a ritual or whether they cracked over time due to the effects of natural elements.
Archaeologist Florence Gaignerot-Driessen, a professor at the University of Cincinnati and leader of the international research team, is using cutting-edge technology to understand how they were created and why they are located on the mountaintop – a difficult-to-access location with stunning views of the Cretan countryside and the Mediterranean Sea.
It is very likely that they are related to initiation rituals for young women. Perhaps they offered these small statues to a deity to seek protection at important moments in their lives, such as motherhood or puberty. Photo: @University of Cincinnati.
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