The oldest known crown in the world was famously discovered in 1961 as part of the Nahal Mishmar Hoard , along with numerous other precious artifacts.
The ancient crown dates back to the Copper Age between 4000 and 3500 BC and it is only one of more than 400 exhibits recovered in a cave in the desert of Judea near the Dead Sea more than half a century ago. The crown is shaped like a large ring and features vultures and doors that protrude from above. It is believed to have played a role in burial ceremonies for important people at the time.
New York University wrote:“An object of enormous power and prestige, the blackened and jagged copper crown, the enigmatic protuberances along its vulture edge and the construction of facades with square openings and its cylindrical shape, suggest links with the burial practices of the time. "
Nahal Mishmar's treasure was found by archaeologist Pessah Bar-Adon hidden in a natural crevice and wrapped in a straw mat in a cave on the northern side of Nahal Mishmar, which became known as" Grotta treasures ”.
The 442 precious artifacts made of copper, bronze, ivory and stone, they include 240 mace heads, 100 scepters, 5 crowns, dust horns, tools and weapons.
The items in Nahal Mishmar's reserve seem to have been collected in a hurry, leading to suggest that the artifacts were sacred treasures belonging to the abandoned Chalcolithic temple of Ein Gedi, about twelve kilometers away , which may have been hidden in the cave during a time of emergency.