Archaeologists have unearthed an ancient staff carved with two realistic human faces in southern Syria.

The roughly 9,000-year-old artifact was discovered near a graveyard where about 30 people were buried without their heads — which were found in a nearby living space. Researchers first uncovered the wand during excavations in 2007 and 2009 at a site in southern Syria called Tell Qarassa.

After the skeletons and wand were buried, someone seems to have dug up and removed the skulls, placing them in the inhabited portion of the settlement.

The bone wand was likely carved from the rib of an auroch, the wild ancestor of cows, and was about 4.7 inches (12 centimeters) long. Two natural-looking faces, with eyes closed, were carved into the bone, though the wand was intentionally broken at both ends, with more faces likely originally adorning the staff.

In related news, following the unearthing of the wand, one too many late night archaeological keggers, and a rather poorly-considered practical joke, an army of Edimmu has now been unleashed on humanity.

The demise of civilization from the life being sucked out of the sleeping is predicted by the end of the year.

Via LiveScience.