Many ancient artifacts now reveal that Muslim pilgrims en route from Cairo in Egypt to Mecca in the Arabian Peninsula about four centuries ago would stop at these professional sorcerers.

Research recently published in the Journal of Material Cultures in the Muslim World by Dr. Itamar Taxel of the Israel Antiquities Authority, Dr. Uzi Avner of the Dead Sea-Arava Science Center, and Dr. Nitzan Amitai-Preiss of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, analyzes artifact assemblages discovered in the late 1990s at an archaeological site in the Eilat region in southern Israel.

The researchers consider that these artifacts were employed in magical rituals carried out to ward off the evil eye, heal diseases, and more. According to Taxel, Avner, and Amitai-Preiss, “This discovery reveals that people in the Early Ottoman Period—just as today—consulted popular sorcerers, alongside the formal belief in the official religion.”

Clay incense altar. Photo: Clara Amit, Israel Antiquities Authority.

“The artifacts were discovered by Moti Shemtov, a resident of Eilat, and subsequent to these finds, an archaeological excavation was directed at the site by Uzi Avner and Asaf Holzer on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority. The group of finds is associated with rituals or ceremonies and comprises predominantly dozens of fragments of clay globular rattles, mostly like table tennis balls, containing small stones that sound when the rattle was shaken.

In addition, two artifacts like miniature votive incense altars, a small figurine of a naked woman or a goddess with raised hands, a characteristic feature of deities or priests, a few other figurines, and colored quartz pebbles.

The examination of the clay used for the ceramic artifacts has shown that these artifacts came from Egypt. This is the first time that such a large assemblage of ritual objects of this kind has been found, and it is even more unique at a temporary site and not a permanent settlement.”

The artifacts were found next to the Pilgrimage Road (Darb al-Hajj, in Arabic) that led from Cairo, crossed the Sinai Peninsula, and continued in the region of Eilat to the town of ‘Aqaba, and thence crossed the Arabian Peninsula. This route was in use from the first centuries after the rise of Islam, from the 7th century CE and down to the 19th century CE.

Several camping sites and structures that served the pilgrims have been uncovered in the Eilat Mountains, and it seems that the main period that these structures functioned was in the Mamluk and Ottoman periods, from the thirteenth or fourteenth centuries CE onwards.

“The find-spot of these artifacts next to the camping site, and the comparison of the artifacts to those known in the Muslim world, as well as the fact that these artifacts were found together as a group, lead to the understanding that they were used in magical rituals. The artifacts were found broken and may have been purposely broken in the ceremonies.

It seems that these rituals were carried out at the site by one or several people who specialized in popular magical ceremonies. From the literary sources, we know that there was a demand for magical rituals among people from different strands of society. Such rituals were carried out daily alongside the formal religious rituals—including in the Muslim world—and it is probable that the pilgrims making their way to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina were no exception,” said the researchers.

See also: More Archaeology News

According to Dr. Omry Barzilai, Southern Regional Archaeologist of the Israel Antiquities Authority, the “Darb el-Haj” road runs through the municipal boundaries of Eilat. The road and adjacent archaeological sites are to become part of a unique regional archaeological-touristic area promoted by the Ministry of Tourism.

The Israel Antiquities Authority will undertake the development and accessibility of the road and intends to organize educational activities for the public emphasizing its cultural heritage role”.

According to Eli Escusido, Director of the Israel Antiquities Authority, “In the Israel Antiquities Authority, we make great efforts to research and publish finds from previously unpublished excavations that were carried out in the past.”

Written by Jan Bartek – AncientPages.com Staff Writer

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