Nov. 4 (Bloomberg) -- The skeleton of a female healer dating back 12,000 years was discovered in a cave in northern Israel, along with grave offerings including 50 complete tortoise shells, the pelvis of a leopard, and a human foot.

The elaborate contents and construction of the grave, one of the earliest known shaman burial sites and the only one in the region, suggest that the woman had a high social standing, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem said today in an e-mailed statement.

``Clearly, a great amount of time and energy was invested in the preparation, arrangement, and sealing of the grave,'' said Dr. Leore Grosman, of the university's Institute of Archaeology, who is heading the excavation at the western Galilee site. Details of the discovery were published yesterday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.

The woman was a Natufian, a people that lived in the eastern Mediterranean 15,000 to 11,500 years ago. Analysis of the bones show that the shaman was 45 years old, petite, and had a spinal disability that would have affected her gait, causing her to limp or drag a foot. A human foot belonging to an adult who was substantially larger than the woman was also found.

Ten large stones were placed directly on the head, pelvis and arms of the woman at the time of internment, possibly to protect the body from wild animals or because the community was trying to keep the shaman and her spirit inside the grave, Dr. Grosman said.

It is likely that the 50 tortoises were brought live to the site and were eaten as part of a feast surrounding the burial, according to the researchers.

The collection of 50 living tortoises at the time of burial would have been a significant task, as they are solitary creatures. Alternatively, the animals may have been collected and confined prior to the event, the researchers said.

Other items found in the grave included the wing tip of a golden eagle, the tail of a cow, two marten skulls and a bone from a wild boar.

To contact the reporter on this story: Alisa Odenheimer in Jerusalem at aodenheimer@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: November 4, 2008 06:33 EST