A creepy prehistoric doll with almond-shaped eyes has been unearthed in Siberia.

Another plaything, a mythical dragon-like animal head, made from antler or horn, was found alongside the artefact in the Bronze Age grave of a small child.

The finds have been added to what has been described as 'the oldest toy collection in the world' following a series of 4,500-year-old discoveries in the remote Khakassia region.

The toy, which is made of soapstone, is believed to be the oldest doll designed for play ever found.

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A prehistoric doll (pictured) with almond-shaped eyes has been unearthed in Siberia. The rest of the toy would have been made of organic material, which did not survive

ITKOL II BURIAL GROUND The latest finds add to others in or near the Itkol II burial ground in Khakassia in recent years. A figurine of a pagan god pulled out of a Siberian river several years ago by an angler was a child's toy or rattle to ward off evil spirits, believe archaeologists. It has almond-shaped eyes, a large mouth with full lips, and a ferocious facial expression. Meanwhile a collection of ghoulish figurines discovered with a baby's remains in a birch-bark cradle two years ago have been hailed as the oldest rattles ever found. Eight intricately carved figurines with the faces of humans, birds, elk and a boar lay on the chest of the ancient infant - each was around 8 cm (3 inches) long. Advertisement

Wooden dolls of a similar age have been discovered in Egypt, but these were engraved with reproductive symbols and so were unlikely to have been playthings.

Archaeologist Dr Andrey Polyakov, from the Institute of History of Material Culture in St Petersburg, said the doll had 'carefully worked out facial features', including bushy eyebrows and high cheekbones.

Like the animal, the rest of the toy would have been made of organic material, which did not survive.

The finds were made in the grave of a 'common' child from the Okunev culture, a grouping which held sway in southern Siberian in the Bronze Age and is believed to have genetic links to Native Americans.

The burial was not an 'elite' member of society, suggesting that 'ordinary' children had access to intricate toys.

The latest finds add to others in or near the Itkol II burial ground in Khakassia in recent years.

A figurine of a pagan god pulled out of a Siberian river several years ago by an angler was a child's toy or rattle to ward off evil spirits, believe archaeologists.

Another plaything, a mythical dragon-like animal head (pictured), made from antler or horn, was found in the same grave of a small child

The finds have been added to what has been described as 'the oldest toy collection in the world' following a series of 4,500-year-old discoveries in the remote Khakassia region, including the ancient rattle pictured

A collection of ghoulish figurines (pictured left) discovered with a baby's remains (pictured right) in a birch-bark cradle two years ago have been hailed as the oldest rattles ever found

It has almond-shaped eyes, a large mouth with full lips, and a ferocious facial expression.

On the back is 'plaited hair with wave like lines. Below the plait there are lines looking like fish scales.'

Fisherman Nikolay Tarasov made 'the catch of a lifetime', said museum staff.

Mr Tarasov said at the time: 'I was about to throw it back in the water - but at the last second I looked at it more closely, and I saw a face.'

Eight intricately carved figurines with the faces of humans (left), birds (right), elk and a boar lay on the chest of the ancient infant - each was around 8 cm (3 inches) long

A figurine of a pagan god (pictured) pulled out of a Siberian river several years ago by an angler was a child's toy or rattle to ward off evil spirits, believe archaeologists

'I stopped and washed the thing in the river - and realised it wasn't a stone of an unusual shape, as I thought earlier - but a statuette.'

Meanwhile a collection of ghoulish figurines discovered with a baby's remains in a birch-bark cradle two years ago have been hailed as the oldest rattles ever found.

Eight intricately carved figurines with the faces of humans, birds, elk and a boar lay on the chest of the ancient infant - each was around three inches long.

The pagan god figurine has almond-shaped eyes, a large mouth with full lips, and a ferocious facial expression

The finds were made in graves of 'common' children from the Okunev culture, a grouping which held sway in southern Siberian in the Bronze Age and is believed to have genetic links to Native Americans