Ancient ostrich eggs, which could be as much as 7,500-years-old, have been discovered in Israel.
The large eggs were discovered next to an ancient fire pit by the Nitzana sand dunes, in the mostly desert Negev region of southern Israel.
"We found a camp site that was used by the desert nomads since prehistoric times", says Lauren Davis, the Israel Antiquities Authority excavation director.
Ostriches were common in the area until they became extinct in the wild in the course of the 19th century.
"At the site we found burnt stones, flint and stone tools as well as pottery sherds, but the truly special find is this collection of ostrich eggs", Ms Davis said.
"These camp sites were quickly covered over by the dunes and were re-exposed with the sand movement over hundreds and thousands of years".
Ostrich eggs were used in burial practices, and also as luxury items and even water-canteens.
They were also eaten, with one ostrich egg having "the nutritional value of about 25 normal chicken eggs!" according to Dr. Amir Gorzalczany, of the Israel Antiquities Authority.
"It is interesting, that whilst ostrich eggs are not uncommon in excavations, the bones of the large bird are not found", he noted.
"This may indicate that in the ancient world, people avoided tackling the ostrich and were content with collecting their eggs."
The eggs discovered at Nitzana are at least 4,000-years-old, excavators said, and will now be dated more accurately.
"After the excavation we will reconstruct the eggs, just like a puzzle. The whole egg may tell us the species, and exactly what they were used for", Ms Davis said.
"As far as I’m concerned, every eggshell is worth its weight in gold! I am really looking forward to the research in the labs. The best is yet ahead!"
