Locals in Sierra Leone, Africa were searching for diamonds when they came across a set of extraordinary stone figures depicting several human races, and in some cases, semi-human beings.
The Unknown Origins of the Mysterious Nomoli Figures | Ancient Origins Skip to main content User menu AboutAbout us Meet the Team In the Media We Give Back User Rewards Expeditions Site Map Membership Site Submissions Login Register Links MediaGallery Video BooksBook Reviews Recommended Books EventsEvents Forums Contact Tours Membership Menu User Menu News Human Origins History Artifacts Myths Places Unexplained Weird Facts Forums About Submissions Premium App Tours Ancestry DNA Free Ebooks Magazine Login Register FREE Premium Membership Contact Tours Premium App Ancestry DNA Free EBooks Magazine All All Artifacts -Ancient Technology -Ancient Writings -Other ArtifactsNews -General -History & Archaeology -Science & Space -Evolution & Human Origins -Mysterious PhenomenaHuman Origins -Science -Religions -FolkloreMyths & Legends -Europe -Asia -Americas -Australia -Africa -AntarcticaAncient Places -Europe -Asia -Americas -Australia & Oceania -Africa -AntarcticaUnexplained PhenomenaWeird FactsVideoOpinion -Guest Authors -Editorials -Letters to the Editor -Author ProfilesHistory -Ancient Traditions -Important Events -Famous PeoplePremium -Preview -Subscribe NewsGeneral History & Archaeology Science & Space Evolution & Human Origins Mysterious Phenomena Human OriginsScience Religions Folklore HistoryAncient Traditions Famous People Important Events ArtifactsAncient Technology Ancient Writings Other Artifacts MythsEurope Asia Americas Australia Africa PlacesEurope Asia Americas Australia & Oceania Africa Antarctica Unexplained Weird Facts PremiumPreview Subscribe SHOP News General History & Archaeology Science & Space Evolution & Human Origins Mysterious Phenomena Home / News Sign Up for PremiumAds-FREE Content Active forum topics Cubit Numerology Natural rock formations or man made? Venus Figurines – Fertility Symbols, Portraits, Dolls, or Upper Paleolithic Porn? Greek creation myths Dinner Invitations for Famous People from the Past The Green Sahara More Greek Mythology Suggested Books PARTNERS Updated 30 December, 2014 - 12:11 mrreese The Unknown Origins of the Mysterious Nomoli Figures Read Later Print Locals in Sierra Leone, Africa were searching for diamonds when they came across a set of extraordinary stone figures depicting several human races, and in some cases, semi-human beings. These figures are extremely old, with some estimates dating them as far back as 17,000 BC. However, some aspects of the figures – namely the high melting temperatures that would have had to have been used to create them, and the presence of steel manipulated into perfectly spherical balls – suggest they were constructed by a civilization that would be considered highly advanced for its time if they were indeed constructed around 17,000 BC. Overall, the finding sets forth intriguing questions as to how and when the Nomoli statues were created, and what purpose they may have served to those who created them. Nomoli Figures (Wikimedia Commons) The statutes form part of multiple ancient legends in Sierra Leone. The ancient inhabitants believed that angels had once lived in the Heavens. One day, as a punishment for causing bad behavior, God turned the angels into humans and sent them to Earth. The Nomoli figures serve as representations of those figures, and as a reminder of how they were banished from the Heavens and sent to Earth to live as humans. Another legend dictates that the statues represent the former kings and chiefs of the Sierra Leone region, and that the local Temne people would perform ceremonies during which they would treat the figures as if they were the ancient leaders. The Temne were eventually displaced from the area when it was invaded by the Mende, and the traditions involving the Nomoli figures lost. While various legends may provide some insight into the origins and purposes of the figures, no single legend has been definitively identified as the source of the statues. Today, some natives in Sierra Leone view the statues as figures of good luck, intended as guardians. They place the statues in gardens and fields in hopes of having a bountiful harvest. In some cases, in times of bad harvest, the Nomoli statues are whipped ritualistically as punishment. There is much variation in the physical properties and appearance of the many Nomoli statues. They are carved from different materials, including soapstone, ivory, and granite. Some of the pieces are small, with the larger ones reaching heights of 11 inches. They vary in color, from white to yellow, brown, or green. The figures are predominantly human, with their features reflecting multiple human races. However, some of the figures are of a semi-human form – hybrids of both human and animal. Human and animal looking Nomoli statues, British Museum ( Wikimedia Commons ) In some cases, the statues depict a human body with a lizard head, and vice versa. Other animals represented include elephants, leopards, and monkeys. The figures are often disproportioned, with the heads being large compared to the body size. One statue depicts a human figure riding on the back of the elephant, with the human appearing to be much larger in size than the elephant. Is this a representation of ancient African legends of giants, or is it merely a symbolic depiction of a man riding an elephant with no importance having been placed on the relative size of the two? One of the more common depictions of the Nomoli statues is the image of a large frightening-looking adult figure accompanied by a child. Left: Nomoli figure with lizard head and human body. Right: Human figure riding an elephant, in disproportionate size. ( Image source ) The physical construction of the Nomoli statues is a bit mysterious, as the methods required to create such figures don’t match up with the era in which the figures originated. When one of the statues was cut open, a small, perfectly spherical metal ball was found within, which would have required sophisticated shaping technology as well as the ability to create extremely high melting temperatures. Some say that the Nomoli statues prove that there once was an ancient civilization that was far more advanced and sophisticated than it should have been. Researchers have concluded that the metal spheres were made of both chromium and steel. This is an odd discovery, as the earliest known production of steel occurred around 2000 BC. If the dating of the statues back to 17,000 BC is accurate, how is it possible that the creators of the Nomoli statues were using and manipulating steel up to 15,000 years prior? Left: Statue with opening containing metal ball. Right: X-ray of statue before it was opened up, showing metal ball inside ( Image Source ) The Nomoli figures seem to elicit far more questions than answers about the ancient civilizations that created them. Researchers and scholars have not been able to conclusively establish exactly why or how the figures were created, or what their purpose was. Having been dated as far back as 17,000 BC, they represent an extremely ancient civilization, and other clues as to their existence, lifestyle, and practices have been difficult to come by. Nevertheless, not everyone agrees on the dating and other estimates have put the figures at 500 BC. While the figures are varied in shape and type, they have a uniform appearance that indicates a common purpose. That purpose remains unknown, however. Curator Frederick Lamp, has asserted that the figures were a part of Temne culture and tradition, but that upon invasion by the Mende, the tradition was lost as the villages were displaced to other locations. With so many questions and uncertainties, it is unknown if we will ever have definitive answers as to the dating, origins, and purpose of the Nomoli figures. For now, they remain a magnificent representation of the ancient civilizations that preceded those that now live in Sierra Leone. Featured image: A close-up of a Nomoli figure taken in the British Museum. Credit: John Atherton / flickr Sources: Nomoli – Sierra Leone Heritage. Available from: http://www.sierraleoneheritage.org/glossary/word.php?id=nomoli Monstrous Nomoli Figures - Relics Left By Unknown Culture That Vanished Thousands Of Years Ago – Message to Eagle. Available from: http://www.messagetoeagle.com/nomolifig.php#.VJk5Dl4AAA Art in Sierra Leone – Wikipedia. Available from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_in_Sierra_Leone Nomoli Statues – Unsolved Mysteries in the World. Available from: http://unmyst3.blogspot.com.au/2011/10/nomoli-statues.html By M R Reese Section: ArtifactsOther ArtifactsNews Tags: Sierra LeoneNomolifigurinesstatuesAfricaCivilization M R Reese M R Reese is a writer and researcher with a passion for unlocking the mysteries of ancient civilizations. She believes that only by understanding where we come from, can we truly understand our life path and purpose. She has earned... Read More Login or Register in order to comment Comments Pete Wagner wrote on 14 May, 2022 - 14:52 Obviously two big questions: 1) Who were the subjects of the carvings, ...perhaps the pygmies, or other hybrid offspring of the Sumerians (aka semites to the ancient Greeks), and 2) What happened to the aboriginal stone carving culture that made them, ...same fate as the Atlanteans? Nobody gets paid to tell the truth. Catherine G wrote on 23 July, 2017 - 11:18 Hi Ben, I also have what I believe is a Nomoli figurine. If you'd like to see photos of it, you can email me at: [email protected] Mine is very similar to the figurine in the second group of photos in this article - 2nd from left. It is of a man holding a pot between his legs. It is an inch tall and very heavy. Appears to me to be made of lead?! It was unearthed near a Saxon settlement in Essex, England. Catherine Ben Vonderheide wrote on 23 May, 2016 - 02:25 Hello, I have been acquiring Nomoli from the bush for many years. Many are currently on exhibit at the African Art Museum of Maryland. Opening Reception is June 12, 2-4. It is the only showing as the collection has never been seen before by public and will be broken up and sold post exhibit I loved this article, I had no knowledge of what they were most of the years I had them brought out of the bush. Just knew they were very old and very powerful and that they find them in the diamond region Give a call if you want to talk Nomoli Ben 717 478-1717 RichardDJ wrote on 5 February, 2016 - 20:52 I on one of these figures that was hand dug in 1964 in Sierra Leone in 1964. What strikes me as most unusual, is the weight of the object. It seems very much heavier than normal stone. Mine is of the human figure also with an oversized head and displayed knows it is dark brown and has significant tooling marks along the entire structure of the body. If anyone would like pictures of this object to add to any collection you may contact me at: sandlakemovie at gmail Best wishes to all. RichardDJ wrote on 5 February, 2016 - 20:52 I on one of these figures that was hand dug in 1964 in Sierra Leone in 1964. What strikes me as most unusual, is the weight of the object. It seems very much heavier than normal stone. Mine is of the human figure also with an oversized head and displayed knows it is dark brown and has significant tooling marks along the entire structure of the body. If anyone would like pictures of this object to add to any collection you may contact me at: sandlakemovie at gmail Best wishes to all. Pages1 2 3 next › last » (12 Comments) Related Articles on Ancient-Origins 11 February, 2020 - 01:53 Ed Whelan Bunce Island and the Gate of No Return One of the greatest atrocities committed against humanity throughout history was the slave trade which involved the enslavement of millions of men, women, and children. Many monuments have been... Read Later Read more about Bunce Island and the Gate of No Return Join Our Weekly Newsletter I approve receiving emails Please verify your request State_ID NotActive Active Sign Up Now Marketing by ActiveCampaign Most Read Today City of Gladiators Earthquake Shattered Fountain Flows After 2,000 Years Pool of Siloam Where Jesus Healed a Blind Man To Be Fully Excavated 10 Shocking Facts about the Ancient Romans Where the West Actually Meets the East—The Tarim Mummies Mummy Juanita: The Sacrifice of the Inca Ice Maiden Invisible Blue: The Color That Ancient People Could Not See Sign Up for PremiumAds-FREE Content Viral Articles Legends Technology Ancient Places Scota: Mother of Scotland and Daughter of a Pharaoh During the 1440s, a Scottish chronicler, Walter Bower, sought to trace the history of the Scottish people from the earliest times. The result of his endeavour was the creation of a compendium of... Eight Bizarre Superstitions from Ancient History The Notorious Hashshashins, the Original Assassins of Persia The Ant People of the Hopi What is a Wendigo? The Beast with an insatiable Hunger for Human Flesh The Spellbinding Story of Circe, Goddess of Magic in Greek Mythology Which “Lost Culture” Created This 2,000-Year-Old Tomb? An ancient burial mound excavated in Siberia was found to contain 50 bodies and numerous bronze tools and artifacts. This exciting discovery belongs to an as-yet unidentified culture. Elizabethan-Era Ship Found in Quarry Lake Along English Channel Coast 6 Shockingly Successful Ancient Warfare Tactics Ancient Chinese Earthquake Detector Invented 2,000 Years Ago Really Worked! Fur Coats from 300,000 Years Ago: Earliest Evidence of Bear Skin Use Cooper’s Ferry Site Yields Oldest Stone Weaponry Found in the Americas Pool of Siloam Where Jesus Healed a Blind Man To Be Fully Excavated The Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) has announced that the 2,700-year-old Pool of Siloam, which is believed to have been used as a ritual bath by the ancient residents of Jerusalem, will be fully excavated over the coming months. 10 Shocking Facts about the Ancient Romans Adam’s Calendar: Oldest Megalithic Site in the World? The Plague of Athens Killed Over a Quarter of the City's Population Gobekli Tepe Archaeoastronomy and the Second Hill of Osiris Niumatou Site: An Archaeological Preservation of Taiwan’s Lost Aborigines Ancient Origins has been quoted by: Greek Mythology Greek Mythology As Greek mythology goes, the universe was once a big soup of nothingness. Then, two things happened: either Chaos or Gaia created the universe as we know it, or Ouranos and Tethys gave birth to the first beings. Mother and Child Reunion Of Thetis And Achilles The Iliad can provide new insights on the role of motherhood among the ancient Greek gods, and by extension, amongst ancient mortal Greek women themselves. Very much like the lyrics of the famous... Mother and Child Reunion Of Thetis And Achilles Seductive Sirens of Greek Mythology and How Heroes Resisted Them Celestial Goddess Selene: The Ancient Greek Goddess of the Moon Pegasus of Greek Mythology: Majestic Winged Horse of Mount Olympus Dreams of Human-Powered Flight: Daedalus and the Story of Icarus Famous People 7 Child Monarchs from History and How They Changed the World When we think of a king or queen, more often than not we conjure an image of someone who is a little… advanced in years. Six Supremely Sadistic Deaths of Christian Martyrs Thomas of Woodstock and Shakespeare's Twisted History Edward the Black Prince Did Not Die of Chronic Dysentery, Study Reveals Has Livy’s History of Rome Skewed Our View of the Early Empire? St. Francis of Assisi: The Transformation from Spoiled Rich Kid to Saint Unexplained Phenomena What is a Wendigo? The Beast with an insatiable Hunger for Human Flesh The Wendigo is a horrifying creature of Algonquian Native American legends said to devour human flesh to survive a harsh winter. The Awe-Inspiring Karnak Temple Complex and Vatican of Ancient Egypt The Mysterious Man from Taured – Evidence for a Parallel Universe? 7 Legendary Cryptids that Turned Out to Be Real! Lost and Found Evidence of Extreme Size Life Forms Everywhere! Mysterious Cases of Living Fossils, Suspended Animation, and Hibernation Important Events Did the Yuan Dynasty's Use of Paper Money Cause Hyperinflation? Although China’s pre-revolution hyperinflation during the 1940s is the one that one often hears about, there is a less-documented hyperinflation that occurred in ancient China. The Plague of Athens Killed Over a Quarter of the City's Population What was the Deadly Cocoliztli Disease that Decimated Aztec Society? 17th Century British Christmas Ban Led to Civil War Eight Historic Lies about the Ancient World that will Blow Your Mind Seven Earth-Shaking Ancient Disasters that Changed Our World Top New Stories Did the Yuan Dynasty's Use of Paper Money Cause Hyperinflation? Although China’s pre-revolution hyperinflation during the 1940s is the one that one often hears about, there is a less-documented hyperinflation that occurred in ancient China. Pool of Siloam Where Jesus Healed a Blind Man To Be Fully Excavated Looted, Trafficked and Displayed at a US Museum, “Green Coffin” Returns to Egypt The Plague of Athens Killed Over a Quarter of the City's Population Why Rituals Have Been Crucial for Humans Throughout History Elizabethan-Era Ship Found in Quarry Lake Along English Channel Coast Myths & Legends Scota: Mother of Scotland and Daughter of a Pharaoh During the 1440s, a Scottish chronicler, Walter Bower, sought to trace the history of the Scottish people from the earliest times. The result of his endeavour was the creation of a compendium of... Eight Bizarre Superstitions from Ancient History The Notorious Hashshashins, the Original Assassins of Persia The Ant People of the Hopi What is a Wendigo? The Beast with an insatiable Hunger for Human Flesh The Spellbinding Story of Circe, Goddess of Magic in Greek Mythology Human Origins Do you dare enter a fairy ring? The mythical mushroom portals of the supernatural For thousands of years, the sudden appearance of a ring of mushrooms was a sure sign of otherworldly presences. These rings would seemingly appear overnight, or travel from one location to another,... Were Other Humans the First Victims of the Sixth Mass Extinction? The Truth Behind the Christ Myth: Ancient Origins of the Often Used Legend – Part I Evidence that Noah’s Ark Landed on a Mountain 17 Miles South of Ararat Did a Native American travel with the Vikings and arrive in Iceland centuries before Columbus set sail? The Curious Apparitions of Pagan Goddesses to the German Knights Templar Ancient Technology Which “Lost Culture” Created This 2,000-Year-Old Tomb? An ancient burial mound excavated in Siberia was found to contain 50 bodies and numerous bronze tools and artifacts. This exciting discovery belongs to an as-yet unidentified culture. Elizabethan-Era Ship Found in Quarry Lake Along English Channel Coast 6 Shockingly Successful Ancient Warfare Tactics Ancient Chinese Earthquake Detector Invented 2,000 Years Ago Really Worked! Fur Coats from 300,000 Years Ago: Earliest Evidence of Bear Skin Use Cooper’s Ferry Site Yields Oldest Stone Weaponry Found in the Americas Ancient Places Pool of Siloam Where Jesus Healed a Blind Man To Be Fully Excavated The Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) has announced that the 2,700-year-old Pool of Siloam, which is believed to have been used as a ritual bath by the ancient residents of Jerusalem, will be fully excavated over the coming months. 10 Shocking Facts about the Ancient Romans Adam’s Calendar: Oldest Megalithic Site in the World? The Plague of Athens Killed Over a Quarter of the City's Population Gobekli Tepe Archaeoastronomy and the Second Hill of Osiris Niumatou Site: An Archaeological Preservation of Taiwan’s Lost Aborigines Opinion The Truth Behind the Christ Myth: Ancient Origins of the Often Used Legend – Part I What is the origin of the legend of the Christed Son who was born of … truncated (1,857 more characters in archive)