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During the Pre-pottery Neolithic, the dead were treated in a variety of ways.  Sometimes, after a body had decayed, the skull was removed and covered in plaster, molded to reconstruct the facial features. The eyes were often represented by inlays of shell (as here) or stone. The practice of plastering skulls was widespread and is found in sites throughout the Levant.

 Mesolithic Sickle Blades

Name: Jericho Plastered Skull

Material: Bone, Plaster, Shell
Size:
Length: 20.3 cm (8 in)
Width: 14.6 cm (5.7 in)

Date: 7th millennium BCE

Place of Origin: Jericho, Israel

Location: British Museum

Source and Registration#: Archaeowiki. Link to resource (accessed April 27, 2010).

Gil Stein

Director of the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago