Ancient amulets were considered sacred. It turned out that this is not true.

Scientists have conducted a new study and found out the true nature of ancient images and figures of owls. It turned out,

that thousands of years ago children from the Pyreneespeninsulas carved them from pieces of slate. Initially, archaeologists thought that the cartoon figures were sacred objects that represented deities and were used only in rituals. But scientists now believe they could have been children's toys or amulets.

Employees of the Spanish NationalResearch Council examined 100 of the 4,000 engraved slate plaques with owls that archaeologists had collected for years from burial sites scattered across the peninsula. All of the carvings date from the Copper Age (3500–2750 BC).

A replica (left) of a carved stone owl with two feathers inserted at the top next to a photograph (right) of a long-eared owl (Asio otus). Image courtesy of Juan J. Negro

They were judged by how much they wereworked out: how the eyes, feathers, beak, wings are depicted. The “cartoonishness” and simplicity of the drawings made scientists think. In addition, slate was used to make amulets. This material is easy to engrave.

When one of the scientists studied the figurines, he thought,that they are pretty easy to make. He and his colleagues suggested that they were made by children. To test this theory, the researchers asked a group of modern-day children to draw pictures of owls, and the resulting artwork looked very similar to ancient drawings.

“We view the creation [of owls] as part of the educational process for young people,” the scientists conclude.

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On the cover: an ancient image of an owl on slate next to a photograph of a small owl (Athene noctua). Image credit: Museo Arqueológico de Sevilla, Spain and Juan J. Negro

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