This ancient paw print on a Jerusalem pottery shard is the oldest known evidence of a cat kneading

More than a millennium ago, a cat came across a fresh piece of pottery in Jerusalem. He placed his paws on the clay – which was still somewhat pliable – and pressed into it.

Now, after scrutinizing a piece of the jug, archaeologists say it’s the earliest known evidence of a cat ‘kneading’, a behavior sometimes called ‘biscuiting’.

The fragment was unearthed at Mount Zion, a hill just outside The Old City of Jerusalemduring an excavation led by Simon Gibsonan archaeologist at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and Raphael Lewisarchaeologist at Bar-Ilan University in Israel.

However, no one noticed the paw print until later. After the excavation, the newly discovered artifacts were stored in boxes. Lab director Gretchen Cotter was sorting through them when she noticed the pottery shard’s strange markings: prints of a foreleg and small paws, as well as deep, precise indentations.

“We think the cat was kneading rather than just resting on the jug because its claws were extended and left deep marks on the clay surface,” says Gibson. The Science of Livinghis Margherita Bassi. The paw print measures 1.2 inches.

The kneaded fragment was once part of a jug that probably carried water, wine or olive oil, adds Gibson.. It was found among other pieces of pottery dating from Abbasid period, which began around AD 750. with the ascension the Abbasid Caliphate in the Middle East. Researchers believe the jug was made around this time, perhaps around the 9th century AD

Cats were often venerable in ancient Islamic culture. prophet Muhammad according to reports adorable the animals, which were allowed to enter mosques. As Gibson says The Science of Livingcats are “mentioned in early Islamic sources including Hadith literature,” the written record of sayings and practices attributed to the prophet.

“Kneading” refers to cats’ tendency to push their paws against soft surfaces, extending their claws and massaging — almost as if kneading dough. Cats perform the same movement on their mother’s mammary glands, which helps to stimulates milk production. As adults, many cats continue this habit, scratching either their favorite people, animals or soft surfaces. Some experts believe that the behavior indicates that the cat feels happy and safe.

All those years ago in Jerusalem, someone may have set a freshly carved jar out in the sunlight to dry, per Haaretzit’s Ruth Schuster. Then, its texture and scent probably attracted a curious feline.

“The paw print indicates that the small cat was probably perched on the curved rim of the jug, probably enjoying the sun,” Gibson tells the publication. “We can only (imagine) it was a heel.”