Ram figurine

(Image credit: Yael Yolovitch, courtesy of the Israel Antiquities Authority)The artifacts were found near the remains of an ancient round building at the archaeological site of Tel Moza, outside of Jerusalem.

Ram figurine in hand

(Image credit: Yael Yolovitch, courtesy of the Israel Antiquities Authority)"It is known that hunting was the major activity in this period," archaeologist Hamoudi Khalaily said in a statement from the Israeli Antiquities Authority. "Presumably, the figurines served as good-luck statues for ensuring the success of the hunt and might have been the focus of a traditional ceremony the hunters performed before going out into the field to pursue their prey.”

dolomite figurine

(Image credit: Yael Yolovitch, courtesy of the Israel Antiquities Authority)This Neolithic figurine was carved out of dolomite and made to look like a wild bovine.

Limestone Figurine

(Image credit: Yael Yolovitch, courtesy of the Israel Antiquities Authority)This limestone figurine of a ram, found in Israel, is about 9,500 years old.