Lime Plaster Statues

These are among the earliest large-scale representations of the human form ever discovered and, as such, are some of the most extraordinary examples of prehistoric art. These three clay statues, named Noah, Heifa and Micah by the archaeologists that found them, were one of as many as 25 found in a pit at 'Ain Ghazal near Amman in Jordan. While the smaller statues only have schematized bodies, the larger ones have fully realised human forms and many were decorated to bring out specific features. Of particular interest are the eyes, which were made with lighter plaster and black material for the irises.