More than 40 thousand years old Cro-Magnon jewelry found in Poland

Archaeologists have discovered in the Polish Stein Cavean ancient piece of jewelry - a pendant made of mammoth ivory. As shown by radiocarbon analysis, the age of the find is more than 41.5 thousand years. This is the oldest piece of jewelry found earlier in Eurasia. It dates back to the times when the Earth was inhabited by our Cro-Magnon ancestors (the period from 40 to 10 thousand years ago), that is, it was done long before the ancient people mastered agriculture and learned to fish. The jewelry was discovered back in 2010, but the results of his research were only published now. The decoration is an excellent evidence of the culture of people who lived in the territory of modern Poland during the late Paleolithic period. In addition, it says that at that time people already had tools of labor, they knew how to handle it perfectly. The suspension is only 3.7 mm thick. Moreover, it has holes and even carved patterns.

In Poland, during archaeological excavations, the oldest jewelry ever discovered in Eurasia was discovered

What is known about the oldest jewelry in Eurasia

A detailed description of the ancient pendant is published inscientific journal Scientific Reports. According to the authors of the work, the pendant's pattern is formed by more than five dozen notches. In addition, the product contains two through holes. The notches can serve not only as decoration, but also carry certain information. For example, it can indicate the number of successful hunting trips of its owner, the cycles of the Moon and the Sun, etc.

Pendant made of mammoth bones over 41.5 thousand years old

I must say that the find is of great importance.to understand the culture of people who lived during this period. Until recently, scientists were convinced that the visual arts, religion and other manifestations of culture appeared much later after the ancient people began to lead a sedentary lifestyle. However, this decoration refutes this assumption, like some other finds recently discovered in Europe and Asia.

Scientists already knew that the inhabitantsSoutheast Asia mastered abstract art about 44 thousand years ago. On the territory of Europe at this time, people began to perform certain religious rituals. Moreover, as a result of the study of the graves of Neanderthals in Iraq and Spain, scientists have found that such rituals were characteristic not only of the Cro-Magnons of Europe, but also of their neighbors, who became extinct. The study of the pendant showed that approximately the same development of culture was observed in people living in the territory of modern Poland.

Presumably the Neanderthals performed ritual ceremonies, like the Cro-Magnons.

“This decoration sets a new date for the beginning of the culture and traditions associated with the spread of modern Homo sapiens in Europe,” the authors of the work write in their study.

As the professor of chemistry at Bologna saysUniversity in Italy, Sakhra Talamo, the pendant was most likely intended to be worn around the neck. However, this is only an assumption, since it is no longer possible to say for sure. It was made at a time when anatomically modern humans first began to create body jewelry around the world. But why it was during this period that people began to use jewelry remains a mystery.

“We do not know what the ancient people faced, what made them create such a wonderful piece,” says Sahra Talamo.

Steinja Cave in Poland, which gave the world many archaeological finds

Steinja Cave in Poland and other finds from the late Paleolithic period

Excavations in Steinja Cave have been carried out since 2006to 2010, with the result that during that period it became the center of archaeological discoveries. Many remains of Neanderthals were found here, as well as a large number of remains of steppe-tundra animals. In addition, archaeologists have discovered a large number of artifacts from different time periods, ranging from the late Pleistocene (2.58 million years ago) to the Paleolithic (11,700 years ago).

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Near the pendant in 2010, scientists also foundan awl made of horse bone. It is obvious that ancient people used a bone tool to pierce objects. It is noteworthy that the awl dates from about the same time as the pendant. At the moment, research on artifacts is ongoing. As soon as there is new information about them, we will immediately inform about it. Finally, let me remind you that recently, scientists also managed to find out from what people made textiles in the Neolithic era.