Latest discoveries adjoining to the traditional Pilgrimage Street, often known as Darb al-Hajj, have led researchers to recommend that Muslim pilgrims touring from Cairo to Mecca round 4 centuries in the past might have sought the companies {of professional} sorcerers on their religious journey. Unearthed within the Eilat area of southern Israel, the 400-year-old artifacts believed for use in rituals present clues into the mix of spiritual pilgrimage and mysticism through the Early Ottoman Interval. This discover not solely sheds gentle on the practices of the time but in addition underscores the wealthy tapestry of cultural historical past within the area.

Eilat Artifacts Reveal a Mixture of Cultural Beliefs

These findings have been revealed within the Journal of Material Cultures in the Muslim World, a collaborative effort by Dr. Itamar Taxel of the Israel Antiquities Authority, Dr. Uzi Avner of the Useless Sea-Arava Science Middle, and Dr. Nitzan Amitai-Preiss of the Hebrew College of Jerusalem.

The trio analyzed artifacts found within the late Nineties at an archaeological website within the Eilat area of southern Israel. They recommend these artifacts had been utilized in magical rituals, comparable to heading off the evil eye or therapeutic ailments. The researchers explained:

“This discovery reveals that individuals within the Early Ottoman Interval—simply as right this moment—consulted standard sorcerers, alongside the formal perception within the official faith.”

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The excavation space within the Eilat hills. (Itamar Taxel/Israel Antiquities Authority)

These intriguing artifacts, unearthed by Moti Shemtov, an Eilat resident, predominantly embrace fragments of clay globular rattles resembling desk tennis balls, containing small stones that produce a sound when shaken. Different objects embrace miniature votive incense altars, a figurine of a lady or attainable deity with raised palms, different collectible figurines, and coloured quartz pebbles. Notably, the ceramic artifacts’ clay composition signifies their origin as Egypt.

“That is the primary time that such a big assemblage of formality objects of this sort has been discovered, particularly at a short lived website and never a everlasting settlement,” the report highlighted.

Quartz Pebbles discovered on the Eilat website. (Clara Amit/Israel Antiquities Authority)

Half and Parcel of the Pilgrimage Street?

The invention was made adjoining to the Pilgrimage Street, often known as Darb al-Hajj in Arabic. The Darb al-Hajj is an historic route traditionally utilized by Muslim pilgrims touring from numerous areas, together with Cairo, throughout the Sinai Peninsula, and onward in direction of the Arabian Peninsula on their approach to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina. Established and in use from the seventh century AD, this path performed a vital function in facilitating the annual Hajj pilgrimage, serving as each a bodily and religious connector for hundreds of years.

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Clay incense altar. (Clara Amit/Israel Antiquities Authority)

Drawing a connection between the placement of those artifacts and the Pilgrimage Street, the researchers famous:

“The find-spot of those artifacts subsequent to the tenting website, and their comparability to these recognized within the Muslim world, recommend that they had been utilized in magical rituals.”

Literary sources point out that such magical ceremonies had been in demand throughout numerous societal ranges, together with amongst pilgrims touring to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina.

Additional highlighting the importance of those findings, Dr. Omry Barzilai, Southern Regional Archaeologist of the Israel Antiquities Authority, talked about that the Darb el-Hajj street is about to develop into a particular regional archaeological-touristic space. The Israel Antiquities Authority plans to develop the street and introduce instructional actions underscoring its cultural heritage significance.

Eli Escusido, Director of the Israel Antiquities Authority, emphasised their dedication to researching and sharing findings from earlier excavations, guaranteeing a complete understanding of the area’s wealthy historical past.

High picture: Left, Clay rattle fragment and proper, clay feminine figurine that had been recovered from the Pilgrimage Street in Nineties, that has been reevaluated.  Supply: Clara Amit/IAA

By Gary Manners