Unknown

Dataset Information

0

Symbolic emblems of the Levantine Aurignacians as a regional entity identifier (Hayonim Cave, Lower Galilee, Israel).


ABSTRACT: The Levantine Aurignacian is a unique phenomenon in the local Upper Paleolithic sequence, showing greater similarity to the West European classic Aurignacian than to the local Levantine archaeological entities preceding and following it. Herewith we highlight another unique characteristic of this entity, namely, the presence of symbolic objects in the form of notched bones (mostly gazelle scapulae) from the Aurignacian levels of Hayonim Cave, Lower Galilee, Israel. Through both macroscopic and microscopic analyses of the items, we suggest that they are not mere cut marks but rather are intentional (decorative?) human-made markings. The significance of this evidence for symbolic behavior is discussed in its chrono-cultural and geographical contexts. Notched bones are among the oldest symbolic expressions of anatomically modern humans. However, unlike other Paleolithic sites where such findings were reported in single numbers, the number of these items recovered at Hayonim Cave is sufficient to assume they possibly served as an emblem of the Levantine Aurignacian.

SUBMITTER: Tejero JM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5960287 | biostudies-literature | 2018 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

altmetric image

Publications

Symbolic emblems of the Levantine Aurignacians as a regional entity identifier (Hayonim Cave, Lower Galilee, Israel).

Tejero José-Miguel JM   Belfer-Cohen Anna A   Bar-Yosef Ofer O   Gutkin Vitaly V   Rabinovich Rivka R  

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 20180430 20


The Levantine Aurignacian is a unique phenomenon in the local Upper Paleolithic sequence, showing greater similarity to the West European classic Aurignacian than to the local Levantine archaeological entities preceding and following it. Herewith we highlight another unique characteristic of this entity, namely, the presence of symbolic objects in the form of notched bones (mostly gazelle scapulae) from the Aurignacian levels of Hayonim Cave, Lower Galilee, Israel. Through both macroscopic and m  ...[more]

Similar Datasets

| S-EPMC9411205 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC7145020 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC7505473 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC5687856 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC9707624 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC9119452 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC7371699 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC2932561 | biostudies-other
| S-EPMC5122879 | biostudies-other
| S-EPMC3718103 | biostudies-other