Archaeology: Owl-shaped plaques may have been on Copper Age children’s wish list
Ancient owl-shaped slate engraved plaques, dating from around 5,000 years ago in the Iberian Peninsula, may have been created by children as toys, suggests a paper published in Scientific Reports. These findings may provide insights into how children used artefacts in ancient European societies.
Around 4,000 engraved slate plaques resembling owls – with two engraved circles for eyes and a body outlined below – and dating from the Copper Age between 5,500 and 4,750 years ago have been found in tombs and pits across the Iberian Peninsula. It has been speculated that these owl plaques may have had ritualistic significance and represented deities or the dead.
Now, Juan Negro and colleagues re-examined this interpretation and suggest instead that these owl plaques may have been crafted by young people based on regional owl species, and may have been used as dolls, toys, or amulets. The authors assessed 100 plaques and rated them (on a scale of one to six) based on how many of six owl traits they displayed including two eyes, feathery tufts, patterned feathers, a flat facial disk, a beak, and wings. The authors compared these plaques to 100 modern images of owls drawn by children aged 4 to 13 years old, and observed many similarities between the depictions of owls. Owl drawings more closely resembled owls as children aged and became more skilful.
The authors observe the presence of two small holes at the top of many plaques. These holes appear impractical to pass a cord through in order to hang the plaque, and lack the expected lack wear-marks if this was their use. Instead they speculate that feathers could be inserted through the holes in order to resemble the tufts on the heads of some regional owl species, such as the long-eared owl (Asio otus).
The authors propose that, rather than being carved by skilled artisans for use in rituals, many of the owl plaques were created by children, and more closely resembled owls as the children’s carving skills increased. They may represent a glimpse into childhood behaviours in Copper Age societies.
Negro, J.J., Blanco, G., Rodríguez-Rodríguez, E. et al. Owl-like plaques of the Copper Age and the involvement of children. Sci Rep 12, 19227 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-23530-0
Press release from Scientific Reports on the Owl-shaped plaques that may have been on Copper Age children’s wish list and created by them.
"Kuna uwezekano kwamba mabamba ya zamani ya mchanga yaliyochongwa kwa mchanga, yaliyokuwa na tarehe ya miaka 5,000 hivi iliyopita katika Peninsula ya Iberia, yaliundwa na watoto kama vitu vya kuchezea, ""alisema jarida la Scientific Reports." Matokeo hayo yanaweza kutusaidia kuelewa jinsi watoto walivyotumia vitu vya kale katika jamii za kale za Ulaya. "Kutoka kwa mabamba ya mchanga yaliyochongwa, ""kufanana na vipepeo"" na ""mazunguko mawili yaliyochongwa kwa macho na mwili ulioelezwa hapa chini"" na ""kuanzia enzi ya shaba kati ya miaka 5,500 na 4,750 iliyopita"" yamepatikana katika makaburi na mashimo kote Peninsula ya Iberia." Imedhaniwa kwamba mabamba hayo ya bundi huenda yalikuwa na maana ya kidesturi na kuwakilisha miungu au wafu. Juan Negro na wenzake walichunguza tena tafsiri hii na badala yake kupendekeza kwamba mabamba haya ya bundi yanaweza kuwa yaliyotengenezwa na vijana kulingana na spishi za bundi za mkoa, na inaweza kuwa ilitumiwa kama wanasesere, vitu vya kuchezea, au amulets. Watafiti walichunguza vipande 100 vya manyoya na kuorodhesha (kwa kiwango cha 1 hadi 6) kulingana na idadi ya sifa sita za bundi, ikiwa ni pamoja na macho mawili, manyoya, manyoya yenye muundo, diski ya uso, mdomo, na mabawa. Watafiti walilinganisha picha hizo na picha za watoto wenye umri wa miaka 4 hadi 13 waliochora ndege aina ya owl na kugundua kuwa zinafanana sana. Michoro ya bundi ilifanana zaidi na bundi kadiri watoto walivyozeeka na kuwa na ustadi zaidi. Waandishi hao wanaona kwamba kuna mashimo mawili madogo juu ya mabamba mengi. Mashimo haya yanaonekana kuwa hayafanyi kazi kupitisha kamba ili kunyongwa kwa bamba, na hawana alama za kuvaa zinazotarajiwa ikiwa hii ilikuwa matumizi yao. "Wanasema kwamba huenda nywele zilikuwa zimeingizwa ndani ya mashimo hayo ili zifanane na nywele za aina fulani za bundi, kama vile bundi mwenye masikio marefu (Asio otus).""" "Wanahistoria wanasema kwamba, badala ya kuchongwa na mafundi wenye ujuzi kwa ajili ya matumizi katika desturi, mabamba mengi ya bundi yaliundwa na watoto, na yalionekana zaidi kama bundi kadiri ujuzi wa kuchonga wa watoto ulivyoongezeka.""" Wanaweza kuwakilisha mtazamo wa tabia za utotoni katika jamii za Enzi ya Shaba. Negro, J. J., Blanco, G., Rodríguez-Rodríguez, E. et al. Mabamba yanayofanana na bundi ya Enzi ya Shaba na kuhusika kwa watoto. (Sci.Ref.12: 1922) "Hii ni taarifa ya vyombo vya habari kutoka kwa ""Scientific Reports"" kuhusu mabamba yenye umbo la bundi ambayo huenda yalikuwa kwenye orodha ya matakwa ya watoto wa Enzi ya Shaba na kuundwa na wao."