A 3,000-year-old clay figurine thought to portray an ancient goddess has been discovered in a volcanic lake in central Italy. Archaeologists think the object was a votive figurine that was probably crafted so prayers could be directed to it.
Its features are only crudely finished, but the figurine still bears the handprints of whoever made it, as well as the impression of a fabric pattern that suggests it was originally clothed in some sort of garment. Government archaeologists for the Etruria region and police divers made the discovery last month at Lake Bolsena, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) northwest of Rome.
