Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A November 2008 PMID 18981412

A 12,000-year-old Shaman burial from the southern Levant (Israel).

Leore Grosman, Natalie D Munro, Anna Belfer-Cohen

Mentions

35
Peak: 10 in Jan 2024
across 5 sources since Nov 2008

Extended reach

48,121
potential audience

Total likes

297

Video views

6,839

Mentions per month

Nov 2008 – May 2025

Where it's discussed

  • X / Twitter23 posts
  • News4 articles
  • YouTube3 videos
  • Facebook3 posts
  • Blogs2 articles

AI synopsis

What people are saying

The discussions highlight the importance of the site and its grave goods, with posts mentioning the unique items like tortoise shells, an eagle wingtip, and leopard bones, which emphasize the ritual complexity and spiritual role of the individual. The tone reflects both admiration for the find and curiosity about what it reveals regarding early humans' beliefs and social roles.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most discussions agree that the discovery sheds important light on early spiritual practices and the sophistication of prehistoric communities.

InterestHigh interest

Posts demonstrate high curiosity, especially given the detailed descriptions of grave offerings and the implications for understanding early shamanistic beliefs.

EngagementModerate engagement

The conversations show moderate engagement, with users referencing additional contexts like other ancient burial sites and comments on the significance of the findings.

ImpactModerate impact

The discovery is viewed as a significant contribution to archaeology, emphasizing its importance in understanding human history and spiritual evolution.

Abstract in brief

  • The discovery of a 12,000-year-old shaman burial at the Hilazon Tachtit site in Israel provides insights into early spiritual beliefs during a time of major socioeconomic shifts from foraging to farming.
  • The burial of an elderly, disabled woman, specially arranged with unique grave offerings such as tortoise shells, animal body parts, and a human foot, suggests her role as a shaman and highlights the symbolic importance of rituals and spiritual practices.
  • This find represents one of the earliest known examples of a shaman’s burial, indicating that complex ideological and spiritual concepts were emerging during this transitional period in human history and influencing cultural traditions worldwide.]

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
Brie (like the cheese)
@bookandthebone · X

@lingerie_addict There's a Natufian Shaman Burial that shows shamanism is way older than we thought but also that people disabled from birth (who couldn't contribute to resource gathering) were an active part of the community https://t.co/AwzZDiGS9q

Jan 3, 2024 · 155 likes · 11 shares · 678 followers View post →
Decisive History
@DecisiveHist · X

@HistoriaPavlos Most of the books I have made a passing references to them, but here is some recommended reading on them that I used to dig a little deeper: https://t.co/hOyaPPi3Di https://t.co/OGNKGGO6EA https://t.co/4ndInyUQUV https://t.co/nJzzZl47Sv

Oct 24, 2023 · 3 likes · 2,022 followers View post →
みつうろこ
@m_uroko · X

A 12,000-year-old Shaman burial from the southern Levant (Israel) | Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences https://t.co/7nrIrYDVFQ

Apr 23, 2023 · 2 likes · 1 share · 2,835 followers View post →
Şahin ÇAKIR
@SahinCAKIR70414 · X

#FossilFriday A 12,000-year-old Shaman burial from the southern Levant (Israel) https://t.co/5macofbhPC "...50 complete tortoise shells and select body-parts of a wild boar, an eagle, a cow, a leopard, and two martens, as well as a complete human foot." #Archaeology #Sapiens https://t.co/ggNrhSrOaw https://t.co/tVUiH3ftv9

Dec 23, 2022 · 2 likes · 63 followers View post →
عالَم الجينات DNA ✪
@Truth1Shocking · X

A 12,000-Year-Old Shaman Burial from the Southern Levant (Israel) https://t.co/9Y5dyVm9uN https://t.co/q6X1sjWQsa

Jan 2, 2025 · 1 like · 1,252 followers View post →
Damien Marie AtHope Ⓐ
@AthopeMarie · X

A 12,000-year-old Shaman burial from the southern Levant (Israel) https://t.co/bsEzurfgvc

May 24, 2023 · 1 share · 10,364 followers View post →

All mentions

José Pinto ✝️ Cristão Novo
@2dedostesta5 · X

@IsabelLMMoreira @PNSpedronuno @SandraFelgas A 12,000-year-old Shaman burial from the southern Levant (Israel). The location of the site of Hilazon Tachtit Cave and other sites with cemeteries in the Natufian core area. Source: https://t.co/KLnL1rYHrG https://t.co/QTyI8mRyZT

May 5, 2025 · 24 followers View post →
عالَم الجينات DNA ✪
@Truth1Shocking · X

A 12,000-Year-Old Shaman Burial from the Southern Levant (Israel) https://t.co/9Y5dyVm9uN https://t.co/q6X1sjWQsa

Jan 2, 2025 · 1 like · 1,252 followers View post →
Angrboða
@angrbodasenna · X

@CainCadmusO @wylfcen Theres another one 3,000 years later in Israel. Natufian shamen. https://t.co/r6EsTuUFCt https://t.co/Q9T3KzSPzI

Apr 2, 2024 · 258 followers View post →
Happy With Self
@_tushiki · X

RT @bookandthebone: @lingerie_addict There's a Natufian Shaman Burial that shows shamanism is way older than we thought but also that peopl…

Jan 4, 2024 · 11 shares · 263 followers View post →
Artlatl
@Artist_HB · X

RT @bookandthebone: @lingerie_addict There's a Natufian Shaman Burial that shows shamanism is way older than we thought but also that peopl…

Jan 4, 2024 · 11 shares · 1,166 followers View post →
LA Knight & Co (
@LA_Knight89 · X

RT @bookandthebone: @lingerie_addict There's a Natufian Shaman Burial that shows shamanism is way older than we thought but also that peopl…

Jan 4, 2024 · 11 shares · 3,090 followers View post →
faust ☀️
@onepiecewhore · X

RT @bookandthebone: @lingerie_addict There's a Natufian Shaman Burial that shows shamanism is way older than we thought but also that peopl…

Jan 4, 2024 · 11 shares · 115 followers View post →
Sylphicwind ♡
@Alessandra1023 · X

RT @bookandthebone: @lingerie_addict There's a Natufian Shaman Burial that shows shamanism is way older than we thought but also that peopl…

Jan 3, 2024 · 11 shares · 142 followers View post →
Scratchin'Pro
@ScratchinPro · X

RT @bookandthebone: @lingerie_addict There's a Natufian Shaman Burial that shows shamanism is way older than we thought but also that peopl…

Jan 3, 2024 · 11 shares · 3,382 followers View post →
Cassandra
@I_Casssandra · X

RT @bookandthebone: @lingerie_addict There's a Natufian Shaman Burial that shows shamanism is way older than we thought but also that peopl…

Jan 3, 2024 · 11 shares · 148 followers View post →
Maud Guérin
@Laitalafraise · X

RT @bookandthebone: @lingerie_addict There's a Natufian Shaman Burial that shows shamanism is way older than we thought but also that peopl…

Jan 3, 2024 · 11 shares · 312 followers View post →
Lavicious
@LaluvlyLa · X

RT @bookandthebone: @lingerie_addict There's a Natufian Shaman Burial that shows shamanism is way older than we thought but also that peopl…

Jan 3, 2024 · 11 shares · 550 followers View post →
Brie (like the cheese)
@bookandthebone · X

@lingerie_addict There's a Natufian Shaman Burial that shows shamanism is way older than we thought but also that people disabled from birth (who couldn't contribute to resource gathering) were an active part of the community https://t.co/AwzZDiGS9q

Jan 3, 2024 · 155 likes · 11 shares · 678 followers View post →
Angrboða
@angrbodasenna · X

A 12k yo shaman burial in Southern Levant. ....the female was buried with: 50 tortoise shells 2 stone martin a wingtip of a Golden eagle an aurochs tail pelvis of a leopard arm of boarcomplete gazelle-horn basalt bowl 3 cockle shells https://t.co/hrQY047cak

Dec 2, 2023 · 258 followers View post →
Decisive History
@DecisiveHist · X

@HistoriaPavlos Most of the books I have made a passing references to them, but here is some recommended reading on them that I used to dig a little deeper: https://t.co/hOyaPPi3Di https://t.co/OGNKGGO6EA https://t.co/4ndInyUQUV https://t.co/nJzzZl47Sv

Oct 24, 2023 · 3 likes · 2,022 followers View post →
Damien Marie AtHope Ⓐ
@AthopeMarie · X

A 12,000-year-old Shaman burial from the southern Levant (Israel) The grave goods comprised 50 complete tortoise shells and select body-parts of a wild boar, an eagle, a cow, a leopard, and two martens, as well as a complete human foot. https://t.co/bsEzurfgvc

Aug 9, 2023 · 10,364 followers View post →
Shemrek
@Hemry · X

RT @AthopeMarie: A 12,000-year-old Shaman burial from the southern Levant (Israel) https://t.co/bsEzurfgvc

May 24, 2023 · 1 share · 1,529 followers View post →
Damien Marie AtHope Ⓐ
@AthopeMarie · X

A 12,000-year-old Shaman burial from the southern Levant (Israel) https://t.co/bsEzurfgvc

May 24, 2023 · 1 share · 10,364 followers View post →
じょじょば
@jojoba0712 · X

RT @m_uroko: A 12,000-year-old Shaman burial from the southern Levant (Israel) | Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences https://t.…

Apr 24, 2023 · 1 share · 2,087 followers View post →
みつうろこ
@m_uroko · X

A 12,000-year-old Shaman burial from the southern Levant (Israel) | Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences https://t.co/7nrIrYDVFQ

Apr 23, 2023 · 2 likes · 1 share · 2,835 followers View post →
victorfh@gmail.com
@victorfhaddadg1 · X

@darcy77991 @SamLevinson8 @Silks @JalalAK_jojo Natufian burial practices 10,000 years before the invention of Judaism by the Shasu. https://t.co/GJqh0DKt6e.

Mar 28, 2023 · 18 followers View post →
Sadie J Testa-Secca
@BookwormSJT · X

This extends into the Paleolithic too! https://t.co/B6JA1xzY70 https://t.co/jHLa1LAo0t https://t.co/VNECIgqxu5 https://t.co/ktQNc36Mcl https://t.co/3W6EsKb7uE

Jan 22, 2023 · 46 followers View post →
Şahin ÇAKIR
@SahinCAKIR70414 · X

#FossilFriday A 12,000-year-old Shaman burial from the southern Levant (Israel) https://t.co/5macofbhPC "...50 complete tortoise shells and select body-parts of a wild boar, an eagle, a cow, a leopard, and two martens, as well as a complete human foot." #Archaeology #Sapiens https://t.co/ggNrhSrOaw https://t.co/tVUiH3ftv9

Dec 23, 2022 · 2 likes · 63 followers View post →
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