It's not what you got down there, it's what you believe in that counts

So about three years back I was in a New Age shop in Fan Tan Alley, and saw a very interesting thing.  This thing was an article about a female shaman grave that was found in Israel in 2008.  This archaeological find was a big deal, because in that area in particular it is very rare to find a spiritual leaders grave that is female.

 This grave in Hilazon Tachtit, Israel, of a Natufian woman was 12,000 years old it is thought to be the earliest known grave of a female shaman.  Inside her grave were found with offerings of 50 tortoise shells and a human foot.  The burial site she was in contained at least 28 other graves, and the Shaman’s was separated by a circular wall of stones, with this wall were buried many different animal bones.  She was about 45 years old.  One other thing that is described that I found quite interesting and could possibly lead to help with an explanation for one of the other graves we looked at in class.  Is the positioning of rocks on the head, pelvis, and arms of the buried individual, sound familiar?  Well it should be, the burial we talked about in class could have similar meaning. 

This big draw of this story for me is my own interest in gender and religion, especially about what a woman can do with regards to contact with a spirit world, or whatever the location of the divine or divinities may be. This is something that for me has always been of interest because of my involvement in religion.  In my experience many times all genders of spiritual leaders that I have met have been quite amazing people.  But to note that there is a woman with such power and respect within the archaeological record at this time, is something that I am quite inspired by and gendered archaeology is something I would like to explore more.

On one last note, regarding gender I would like to take a moment to wonder if the archaeological record may or may not reflect the changing acceptance in reform Judaism for who can become Rabbi’s in the recent year.  I speak from this position as I am reform Jewish and I know more about the practices and religion.  Recently women, gays, lesbians, African Americans, and many more diverse people are being allowed to enter the rabbinical circle.  I would wonder would there be any difference to the graves, that tells the story of this shift, years from now? 

Article about the female shaman: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,446407,00.html