Abstract
This paper examines an often-overlooked sector of households: children. The paper first presents the importance of children within the framework of the household and society, pointing out significant references from textual sources and imagery, such as orthostats. Then, a set of artifacts identified in the archaeological record is presented, which may be defined as spinning toys, comprising two components: a string and a perforated object. The conclusions discuss the way these toys reflect on the importance of children in society.
Keywords
Late Bronze Age, Iron Age, childhood, children, household, perforated objects, toys, ethnography
Recommended Citation
Avissar Lewis, RS.
2026.
The Importance of an ‘Unimportant’ Toy: Children in the Ancient Domestic Sphere.
'Atiqot 121.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.70967/2948-040X.2521
Available at:
https://publications.iaa.org.il/atiqot/vol121/iss1/5