Archaeologists Unearth 7,500-Year-Old Head with Reptilian Features
Researchers from the Kuwait-Polish Archaeological Mission (KPAM) have uncovered a 7,500-year-old figurine at the Bahra 1 site in Kuwait’s Al-Subiyah desert.
The figurine, depicting a head with reptilian features such as an elongated skull, slanted eyes, and a flat nose, is the first of its kind found in the region.
Professor Piotr Bielinski of the Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology, University of Warsaw (PCMA UW), noted that this unique discovery “raises intriguing questions about its purpose and the symbolic, or possibly ritualistic, value it held for the people of this ancient community.”
The artifact bears similarities to reptilian-headed figures made by the Ubaid culture, a prehistoric Mesopotamian civilization. However, archaeologists remain uncertain about the motivations behind creating such non-human representations.
Alongside the figurine, researchers discovered evidence of locally produced pottery, including a foundry for crafting Coarse Red Ware (CRW), a pottery type known from sites across the Arabian Peninsula. The presence of this foundry settles debates over the origin of CRW, confirming it was produced locally.
Reptilian-headed figures have appeared in various ancient cultures worldwide, often linked to gods or religious practices.
For example, the Egyptians worshipped Sobek, depicted with an alligator head, while Mesoamerican cultures revered Quetzalcoatl and K’uk’ulkan, serpent-headed deities.
In Mesopotamia, the Sumerians, who followed the Ubaid period, venerated Ningishzida, a snake god associated with vegetation and the underworld.
The Ubaid figurines, however, predate these civilizations by thousands of years, suggesting that later cultures may have inherited their reptilian symbolism.
Despite these parallels, archaeologists still lack clear insights into the Ubaid people’s reasons for crafting such figures or their role in religious or ceremonial contexts.
The Penn Museum suggests these figurines might represent a “pre-Sumerian population,” but further studies are needed to shed light on their cultural and symbolic significance.
