Excavators at the Kishle within the Tower of David Museum complex recently unearthed a rare mold that was used in antiquity to produce female figurine faces. The mold was discovered in fill dating to the First Temple period. It would have been used to cast the face of the famous Judean pillar figurines. These figurines usually depict women with elaborate hairstyles and with their hands placed under their breasts. The head and body of these figurines were made separately by hand, while only the face was cast using a mold. This is the first time a facial mold for Judean pillar figurines has been discovered. Judean pillar figurines are often found in domestic contexts dating to the Iron Age II, and many scholars believe they were used in household religious practices. Their widespread use corresponds closely to the period when the Old Testament repeatedly condemns idolatry in Judah (Jer 11:13; Ezek 8:10–12).
Source: https://www.iaa.org.il/en/page/news-index (see “Rare First Temple Period Mold for Producing Figurines Discovered at the Tower of David Jerusalem Museum Excavations” [July 27, 2026])
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