Ain Sakhri Lovers

This calcite figurine (c. 9000 BC) from ʿAin Sakhri, Palestine, is the oldest known depiction of a couple in intimate embrace. Its interlocking, stylized forms create shifting interpretations: from two bodies merging in a circular clasp to more abstract or phallic shapes depending on the angle. This purposeful ambiguity captures early human reflections on intimacy, fertility, and connection.