Terracotta
6th-4th c. BC
Empúries (L’Escala – Alt Empordà)
Dolls made of wood, ivory, bone, coloured wax, etc. have existed since ancient times. Their arms and legs were articulated. The type of head adornment and hairstyle evolved according to the customs of each era. The quality of the dolls’ construction and material varied in direct relation to the social class of the children to whom they belonged. Just like today, the dolls had outfits and accessories. We also know that there were houses, furniture and crockery for playing with the dolls. The transition from adolescence to adulthood was marked with a ceremony in which the young people deposited the toys that symbolised their childhood in the tomb: dolls, jackstones, balls, soft toys, etc. Most of the dolls we know of today were found in children’s graves.
