Mysterious, realistic, almost life-size plaster statues without typical signs of gender were discovered during excavations at the Neolithic settlement of Ain Ghazal, in the vicinity of the modern capital of Jordan, Amman, in 1983

More than 30 human figurines had several strange features. Almost no one had either a head or a body; there were either lifeless heads or headless bodies. This is typical not only for Ain Ghazal, but also in other places. Since they were found during excavations of tombs, many believe that they were part of some kind of burial ritual. the figurines are created from clay containing limestone powder mixed with lime plaster

They are among the oldest monumental artifacts ever found. They range in size from small, 2 to 3 feet tall, to almost life-size figures

Their large, elliptical eyes are unique, and their small ears indicate that they are depictions of an unknown race of prehistoric Jordan.