8,000-year-old discovery: 5 mysterious clay statues in Izmir
Explore ancient clay statues at Ulucak Mound, used as amulets to ward off evil spirits and bring peace.
Báo Khoa học và Đời sống•10/11/2025
During an archaeological excavation at Ulucak Mound in Izmir, Türkiye's third most populous city, experts from Trakya University unexpectedly found many strange objects. Photo: @Trakya University. These are five clay statues that experts have named “Venus of Izmir”. Photo: @Trakya University.
These clay figurines are about 5-6 cm long, they are dated to be between 7,800 and 8,000 years old. Photo: @Trakya University. Basically, these 5 clay statues are incomplete, each statue will be missing different parts such as head, arms, legs, upper body or lower body. Photo: @Trakya University.
Only one statue is relatively complete. Photo: @Trakya University. The excavation director, Professor Dr. Özlem Çevik, said that these approximately 8,000-year-old statues were not used for worship, but as amulets to ward off evil spirits and negativity.
They are used on important days such as births and deaths, or during house building and harvest seasons to bring prosperity and peace, after which they can be broken. Photo: @Trakya University. Dear Readers, please watch the video : "Discovery of more than 100 tombs from the Hung King period dating back about 3,500 years at Vuon Chuoi Site". Video source: @VTV24.
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