Drawings of owls by children aged 6 - 9 years. Credit: Juan J. Negro.
Drawings of owls by children aged 6 - 9 years. Credit: Juan J. Negro.

Ancient owl-shaped plaques might have been toys, not deities

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Ancient owl-shaped, engraved slate plaques from 5,000 years ago originally thought to be ritualistic and representing deities or the dead might actually have been toys carved by kids, according to international researchers. Around 4,000 engraved plaques representing owls dating from the Copper Age between 5,500 and 4,750 years ago have been found across the Iberian Peninsula in tombs and pits. The team re-examined the original, more serious interpretation by assessing 100 plaques and rating them based on six traits: two eyes, feathery tufts, patterned feathers, a flat facial disk, a beak, and wings. They then compared the plaques to 100 modern drawings by kids aged 4-13, and found many similarities in the owl depictions which similarly became more detailed as children aged. Due to these similarities, the team proposes that rather than being carved by skilled artisans for rituals, the plaques might’ve been created by kids for playtime. 

Journal/conference: Scientific Reports

Link to research (DOI): 10.1038/s41598-022-23530-0

Organisation/s: Estación Biológica de Doñana, CSIC, Spain

Funder: No information provided. The authors declare no competing interests.

Media release

From: Springer Nature

3.  Archaeology: Owl-shaped plaques may have been on Copper Age children’s wish list *IMAGES*

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.  

 

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  • Image 1
    Image 1

    Replica of the Valencina Slate Plaque with inserted owl feathers on the two drilled holes at the top of the plaque.

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    Attribution: Juan J. Negro

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    Last modified: 02 Dec 2022 3:11am

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  • Image 2
    Image 2

    Original slate plaque modelled after an owl in the Museo de Huelva.

    File size: 2.1 MB

    Attribution: Juan J. Negro

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    Last modified: 02 Dec 2022 3:11am

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  • Image 3
    Image 3

    Two fledglings of the species known as Little Owl (Athene noctua). This common species may have been the model of some engraved slate plaques of the Copper Age.

    File size: 3.3 MB

    Attribution: Juan J. Negro

    Permission category: © - Only use with this story

    Last modified: 02 Dec 2022 3:11am

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  • Image 4
    Image 4

    Long-eared owl (Asio otus). This quintessential owl species may have inspired numerus engraved slate plaques.

    File size: 3.4 MB

    Attribution: Juan J. Negro

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    Last modified: 02 Dec 2022 3:11am

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  • Image 5
    Image 5

    Drawings of owls by children aged 6 - 9 years

    File size: 1.4 MB

    Attribution: Juan J. Negro

    Permission category: © - Only use with this story

    Last modified: 02 Dec 2022 3:11am

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  • Image 5
    Image 5

    A drawing of owls by children aged 6 - 9 years.

    File size: 1.4 MB

    Attribution: Juan J. Negro

    Permission category: © - Only use with this story

    Last modified: 02 Dec 2022 3:11am

    NOTE: High resolution files can only be downloaded here by registered journalists who are logged in.

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