Stele

“This is a stele. This is an upright stone. It is sometimes carved, sometimes as it is found naturally, but it is something that is taller than it is wide frequently.”

“Archaeologists identify two different uses for stelae... One use is as a commemorative marker for a burial... You also find them in the Neolithic period in groups, in arrangements that indicate to many archaeologists that they are there to represent or give presence to deities.”

“The inscription begins, I am Katumuwa, servant of Panamuwa, who commissioned for myself this stele while still living.”

“We've got this statement about stelae, or standing stones. So these would have been divine images for Baal and for Asherah, one for Baal, one for Asherah.”