Curator’s pick... Stone Hand from Ħaġar Qim

The focus on artefacts from the Neolithic period normally falls on the captivating statues, and one tends to oversee the other smaller carvings also discovered in Malta’s megalithic structures, which are equally as fascinating. One such fine example is this stone hand, discovered in 1914 by the caretaker of the site, along with 2 small heads and one statuette.

This puzzling artefact, carved out of globigerina limestone, measures 8.1 x 4.6 cm. The thumb is carved separately, while the fingers are cupped together with only three faint incisions on the outer side of the object to indicate the individual finger. The reason for carving just a hand is, and will probably remain, both curious and mysterious.