ByMIRIAM SELA-EITAM

JULY 27, 2026 16:18

Updated: JULY 27, 2026 16:28

A rare Judean Pillar Figurine mold from the First Temple period turned up during digs in Jerusalem's Old City, the Israel Antiquities Authority announced Monday.

This marks the first such mold recovered anywhere in Israel for making figures of that era.

Workers found the mold, which once shaped the face of a female figurine, inside the Tower of David Museum while preparing the site for the new Schulich Wing for Archaeology, Art and Innovation.

After the discovery, experts passed the mold to ceramics conservator Tamar Gonen at the IAA, who cleaned it and exposed the finely detailed facial features inside.

Restoration specialist Sviatoslav Klindukhov then produced a cast from suitable material.

The finished cast shows a complete female face with clear features and an elaborate curly hairstyle.

Three types of First Temple figurines

Excavations have yielded three main kinds of First Temple figurines: female examples known as Judean Pillar Figurines, horse-and-rider pieces, and animal forms that mostly depict horses.

Crafted from clay, the figurines usually stand 10 to 20 centimeters tall. They often carry a white slip, though traces of yellow, red, and black pigment show they were once painted.

Many survive broken at the neck because makers formed the head and body by hand and only pressed the face in a mold.

"The mold came to light while sifting soil from fills dated to the First Temple period," said IAA excavation directors Dr. Amit Re'em and Dr. Ayala Zilberstein. "The Kishle dig, now in its several years, keeps surprising us."

"It ranks among the most important archaeological projects in Jerusalem in recent decades, revealing the city's story in a continuous line from the era of the Kings of Judah through later periods to the British Mandate."

Re'em noted that clay figurines from the First Temple period appear in nearly every excavation in Jerusalem and nearby areas.

"Until now, however, no production molds for these figurines had been found in Jerusalem," Re'em said. "This raised the question of whether they were made locally or brought in from elsewhere. The Kishle mold supplies the first direct proof that at least some were produced inside the city."

IAA Iron Age Curator Debbi Ben-Ami explained that scholars have not yet settled on the exact purpose of the Judean Pillar Figurines.

"Their presence in almost every household, as well as in streets and tombs, points to everyday use," she said, adding that their identity and role remain topics of debate.

Ben-Ami noted that some researchers view them as images of a fertility goddess such as Asherah, the ancient Northwest Semitic deity linked to El or Yahweh.

Others propose the figurines served as children's toys.

A third view holds that they acted as blessing figures or household amulets meant to offer protection and good fortune.

"We hope the newly found mold from Jerusalem will offer fresh clues and help resolve some of the questions still facing researchers."

Tower of David Jerusalem Museum Director and Chief Curator Eilat Lieber said the discovery of the first mold for First Temple period figurines has created tremendous excitement among the team.

Tying Jerusalem's past, present together

"The Tower of David Jerusalem Museum rests on the idea that Jerusalem's past continues to shape its present," Lieber said. "This summer, visitors can join real archaeological work by sifting soil from the Kishle excavations."

"Every fragment recovered helps illuminate another chapter in Jerusalem's story, making participants true partners in preserving and revealing the city's remarkable heritage."

Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu recalled that Jewish sages attributed the First Temple's destruction to three main sins: idolatry, sexual immorality, and bloodshed.

"The discovery of a mold for producing figurines from the First Temple period in the heart of Jerusalem gives us a tangible glimpse into the world of the prophets of Israel and the spiritual and cultural realities they faced," he said. "When such an artifact emerges from Jerusalem's soil, history becomes real and immediate: this small piece of pottery tells the story of the beliefs, customs, and spiritual challenges that marked the capital in ancient times."

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