Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-tf8b9 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-01T07:18:58.075Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

An Early Upper Palaeolithic decorated bone tubular rod from Pod Hradem Cave, Czech Republic

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Duncan Wright ,
Ladislav Nejman ,
Francesco d'Errico ,
Miroslav Králík ,
Rachel Wood ,
Martin Ivanov  and
Šárka Hladilová
Duncan Wright
Affiliation:
School of Archaeology and Anthropology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia
Ladislav Nejman
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, 611 37, Brno, Czech Republic School of Social Science, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
Francesco d'Errico
Affiliation:
Université de Bordeaux, CNRS UMR 5199 PACEA, Equipe Préhistoire, Paléoenvironnement, Patrimoine, Avenue des Facultés, 33405 Talence, France Institute of Archaeology, History, Cultural Studies and Religion, University of Bergen, Øysteinsgate 3, Bergen, Norway
Miroslav Králík
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, 611 37, Brno, Czech Republic
Rachel Wood
Affiliation:
Research School of Earth Sciences, Australian National University, 1 Mills Road, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
Martin Ivanov
Affiliation:
Department of Geological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, 611 37, Brno, Czech Republic
Šárka Hladilová
Affiliation:
Department of Geological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, 611 37, Brno, Czech Republic
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Personal ornaments are a notable feature of the Early Upper Palaeolithic in Europe and an important expression of modern human identity. The tubular bone rod from Pod Hradem Cave in the Czech Republic is the first example of its kind from Central Europe. Laboratory examination reveals the techniques used in its manufacture and underlines the skill of its maker. AMS dates and Bayesian modelling suggest a cultural association with the Early Aurignacian period. It illustrates the cultural links across large areas of Europe at this time, although it is unique in its specific combination of size, raw material and decorative features.

Keywords

Czech RepublicPod HrademMiddle–Upper Palaeolithic transitionpersonal ornamentbone technologycraft specialisationportable art
Type
Research articles
Information
Antiquity , Volume 88 , Issue 339 , March 2014 , pp. 30 - 46
Copyright
Copyright © Antiquity Publications Ltd. 2014

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Absolon, K. 1970. Moravskykras. Praha: Academia.Google Scholar
Bar-Yosef, O. 1998. On the nature of transitions: the Middle to Upper Palaeolithic and Neolithic revolution. Cambridge Archaeological Journal 8:141-63. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0959774300001815 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bartolomei, G., Broglio, A., Cassoli, P. F., Castelletti, L., Cattani, L., Cremaschi, M., Giacobini, G., Malerba, G., Maspero, A., Peresani, M., Sartorelli, A. & Tagliacozzo, A.. 1994. La Grotte de Fumane: un site aurignacien au pied des Alpes. Preistoria Alpina 28:131-79.Google Scholar
Bouyssonie, J. 1939. La grotte de Tarte, in BegouËN, H. (ed.) Melanges de préhistoire et d'anthropologie offerts par ses collègues, amis et disciples au Professeur Comte H. Begouen: 179-94. Toulouse: Editions du Muséum.Google Scholar
Bronk Ramsey, C. 2009a. Bayesian analysis of radiocarbon dates. Radiocarbon 51:337-60.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bronk Ramsey, C. 2009b. Dealing with outliers and offsets in radiocarbon dating. Radiocarbon 51:1023-45.Google Scholar
Buisson, D. 1991. Les flutes paléolithiques d'Isturitz (Pyrénées-Atlantiques). Bulletin de la Société Préhistorique Française 87:420-33.Google Scholar
Caron, F., D'Errico, F., Moral, P. Del, Santos, F. & Zilhao, J.. 2011. The reality of Neandertal symbolic behavior at the Grotte du Renne, Arcy-sur-Cure, France. PLoS ONE 6(6): 1–11. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0021545 Google Scholar
Derevianko, A.P. 2010. Three scenarios of the Middle to Upper Paleolithic transition. scenario 1: the Middle to Upper Paleolithic transition in northern Asia. Archaeology, Ethnology and Anthropology of Eurasia 38(3): 2–32.Google Scholar
Derevianko, A. P. & Rybin, E. P.. 2005. The earliest representations of symbolic behaviour by Palaeolithic humans in the Altai Mountains, in Derevianko, A. P. (ed.) The Middle to Upper Palaeolithic transition in Eurasia: hypotheses and facts: 232-55. Novosibirsk: Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography Press.Google Scholar
Derevianko, A. P. & Shunkov, M.V.. 2005. The Karama Lower Palaeolithic site in the Altai: initial results. Archaeology, Ethnology and Anthropologyin Eurasia 23(3): 52–69.Google Scholar
D'Errico, F. 1993. La vie sociale de l'art mobilier paléolithique. Manipulation, transport, suspension des objets en os, bois de cervides, ivoire. Oxford Journal of Archaeology 12:145-74.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
D'Errico, F. & Laroulandie, V.. 2000. Bone technology at the Middle—Upper Palaeolithic transition. The case of the worked bones from Buran-Kaya III level C (Crimea, Ukraine), in Orschiedt, J. & Weniger, G. C. (ed.) Neanderthals and modern humans—discussing the transition: Central and Eastern Europe from 50.000-30.000 B. P: 227-42. Mettmann: Neanderthal Museum.Google Scholar
D'Errico, F. & Vanhaeren, M.. 2007. Evolution or revolution? New evidence for the origin of symbolic behaviour in and out of Africa, in Mellars, P., Bar-Yosef, O. & Stringer, C. (ed.) Rethinking the human revolution: 275–286. Cambridge: McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research.Google Scholar
D'Errico, F. 2009. Earliest personal ornaments and their significance for the origin of language debate, in Botha, R. & Knight, C. (ed.) The cradle of human language: 24–60. Oxford: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
D'Errico, F., Giacobini, G. & Puech, P. F.. 1984. Varnish replicas. A new method for studying worked bone surfaces. OSSA, International Journal of Skeletal Research 9(10): 29–51.Google Scholar
D'Errico, F. J., Zilhao, J., Julien, M., Baffier, D. & Pelegrin, J.. 1998. Neanderthal acculturation in Western Europe? A critical review of the evidence and its interpretation. Current Anthropology 39: S1–S44.Google Scholar
Fallon, S., Fifield, L. & Chappell, J.. 2010. The next chapter in radiocarbon dating at the Australian National University: status report on the single stage AMS. Nuclear Instruments and Methods B 268(8): 898–901. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.nimb.2009.10.059 Google Scholar
Fernandez, E. A. & Joris, O.. 2007. Personal ornaments in the Early Upper Paleolithic of western Eurasia: an evaluation of the record. Eurasian Prehistory 5(2): 31–44.Google Scholar
Hahn, J. & Munzel, S.. 1995. Knochenfloten aus dem Aurignacien des Geissenklosterle bei Blaubeuren, Alb-Donau-Kreis. Fundberichte aus Baden-Württemberg 20:1–12.Google Scholar
Higham, T.F.G. 2011. European Middle and Upper Palaeolithic radiocarbon dates are often older than they look: problems with previous dates and some remedies. Antiquity 85:235–49.Google Scholar
Higham, T.F.G., Jacobi, R. M., Julien, M., David, F., Basell, L., Wood, R., Davies, S. W.G. & Ramsey, C. Bronk. 2010. The chronology of the Grotte du Renne (France) and implications for the association of ornaments and human remains within the Chatelperronian. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA 107:20234-39. http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1007963107 Google Scholar
Hublin, J-J., Talamo, S., Julien, M., David, F., Connet, N., Bodu, P., Vandermeersch, B. & Richards, M. P.. 2012. Radiocarbon dates from the Grotte du Renne and Saint-Césaire support a Neandertal origin for the Châtelperronian. Proceedings ofthe National Academy of Sciences of the USA 109:18743-48. http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1212924109 Google Scholar
Klima, B. 1994. The bone, decorative objects and art. Industry, in Svoboda, J. (ed.) Pavlov I: excavations 1952-1953 (ERAUL: Dolni Vestonice Studies 2): 87–150. Liège: Université de Liege.Google Scholar
Knies, J. 1901. Ctvrtohorní zvirena jeskyne Pod hradem u Suchdola na Morave. Casopis vlastivedného musejnlho spolku v Olomouci 18:5-12 & 50–56.Google Scholar
Kuhn, S. L. & Stiner, M. C.. 2007. Paleolithic ornaments: implications for cognition, demography and identity. Diogenes 214:40–48.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Laroulandie, V. & D'Errico, F.. 2004. Worked bones from Buran-Kaya III level C and their taphonomic context, in Chabai, V., Monigal, K. & Marks, A. (ed.) The Middle Paleolithic and Early Upper Paleolithic of eastern Crimea (ERAUL 104): 83–94. Liège: Université de Liege.Google Scholar
Lejeune, M. 1987. L'Art mobilier paléolithique et mesolithique en Belgique. Treignes-Viroinval: Centre D'etudes et de documentation archéologiques.Google Scholar
Leroi-Gourhan, A. & Leroi-Gourhan, A.. 1965. Chronologie des grottes D'Arcy-sur-Cure. Gallia Prehistorie 7:1–64.Google Scholar
Mithen, S. J. 1996. The prehistory of the mind: a search for the origins of art, religion and science. London: Thames & Hudson.Google Scholar
Mussi, M., Gioa, P. & Negrino, F.. 2006. Ten small sites: the diversity of the Italian Aurignacian, in Bar-Yosef, O. & Zilhao, J. (ed.) Towards a definition of the Aurignacian: proceedings ofthe symposium held in Lisbon, Portugal, June 25-30, 2002 (Trabalhos de Arqueología 45): 189–209. Lisbon: Instituto Portugués de Arqueología.Google Scholar
Nejman, L., Wright, D., Dolakova, N., Lisa, L., Horacek, I., Novak, J., Pacher, M., Sazelova, S., Holub, M., Wood, R., Prichystal, A., Neruda, N., Nerudova, Z., Nyvltova-Fisakova, M. & Bajer, A.. in preparation. People and palaeoenvironment in the Moravian karst: new results from Pod Hradem, Czech Republic.Google Scholar
Neruda, P. & Nerudova, Z.. 2013. The Middle-Upper Palaeolithic transition in Moravia in the context of the Middle Danuberegion. Quaternary International 294:3–19. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.quaint.2011.08.035 Google Scholar
Nerudova, Z., Prichystal, A. & Neruda, P.. 2012. Revize nalezu zjeskyne Pod Hradem v Moravskem krasu. Archeologické rozhledy LXIV: 136-52.Google Scholar
Otte, M. 1979. Le Paleolithique supérieur ancien en Belgique (Monographies D'Archeologie Nationale 5). Bruxelles: Musées royaux D'art et D'histoire.Google Scholar
Otte, M. 1993. L'Aurignacien au nord-ouest de l'Europe, in Banesz, M. & Kozlowski, J. K. (ed.) Aurignacien en Europe et au Proche-Orient. Actes du XIIeme Congrès International des Sciences Preéhistoriques et Protohistoriques, Bratislava, 1-7 Septembre 1991: 187-93. Nitra-Bratislava: Institut Archéologique de l'Academie Slovaque des Sciences.Google Scholar
Ramirez Rozzi, F., D'Errico, F., Vanhaeren, M., Grootes, P., Kerautret, B. & Dujardin, V.. 2009. Cutmarked human remains bearing Neandertal features and modern human remains associated with the Aurignacian at Les Rois. Journal of Archaeological Science 87:153–85.Google Scholar
Reimer, P. J., Baillie, M. G.L., Bard, E., Bayliss, A., Beck, J. W, Blackwell, P. G., Ramsey, C. Bronk, Buck, C. E., Burr, G. S., Edwards, R. L., Friedrich, M., Grootes, P. M., Heaton, T. J., Hogg, A. G., Hughen, K. A., Kaiser, K. A., Kromer, B., Mccormac, F. G., Manning, S. W., Reimer, R. W., Richards, D. A., Southon, J. R., Talamo, S., Turney, C. S.M., Van Der Plicht, J. & Weyhenmeyer, C.F.. 2009. IntCal09 and Marine09 radiocarbon age calibration curves, 0-50,000 years cal BP. Radiocarbon 51:1111–50.Google Scholar
Rigaud, S., Roussel, M., Rendu, W., Primault, J., Renou, S., Hublin, J.-J. & Soressi, M.. In press. Les pratiques ornementales a l’Aurignacien ancien dans le Centre-Ouest de la France: l’apport des fouilles récentes aux Cottés (Vienne). Bulletin de la Société Prehistorique Française.Google Scholar
Sinitsyn, A. 1993. Les niveaux aurignaciens de Kostienki I, in Banesz, M. & Kozlowski, J. K. (ed.) Aurignacien en Europe et au Proche-Orient. Actes du XIIèeme Congreès International des Sciences Préehistoriques et Protohistoriques, Bratislava, 1-7 Septembre 1991: 242–59. Nitra-Bratislava: Institut Archéologique de l'Académie Slovaque des Sciences.Google Scholar
Sinitsyn, A. 2005. Stilisticheskii aspekt analiza: kremnevyi inventar, ornamenty, natelnye ukrasheniya, in Derevianko, A. P. & Shunkov, M. (ed.) Major issues of the Eurasian Palaeolithic: 172–78. Novosibirsk: Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography Press.Google Scholar
Skinner, H.C.W. 2005. Mineralogy of bone, in Selinus, O. & Alloway, B. J. (ed.) Essentials of medical geology: impact ofthe natural environment on public health: 667–93. Cambridge: Academic Press.Google Scholar
Trampler, R. 1898. Die Burghohle im Punkwathale in Mahren. Deutsche Rundschau fur Geographie und Statistik 20(12): 529–38.Google Scholar
Valoch, K. 1965. Die altsteinzeitlichen Begehungen der Hohle Pod Hradem, in Die Erforschung der Hohle Pod hradem 1956-1958 (Anthropos 18(10)): 93–106. Brno: Moravské Museumv Brne.Google Scholar
Valoch, K. 1996. Lepaléeolithiqueen Tchéequieeten Slovaquie. Grenoble: J. Millen.Google Scholar
Vanhaeren, M. & D'Errico, F.. 2006. Aurignacian ethnolinguistic geography of Europe revealed by personal ornaments. Journal of Archaeological Science 33:1105-28. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2005.11.017 Google Scholar
Van Klinken, G. J. 1999. Bone collagen quality indicators for palaeodietary and radiocarbon measurements. Journal of Archaeological Science 26:687–95.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Vicino, G. 1984. Lo scavo paleolitico al Riparo Bombrini (Balzi Rossi di Grimaldi, Ventimiglia). Rivista Ingauna Intemelia 39(3-4): 1–10.Google Scholar
White, R. 2001. Personal ornaments from the Grotte du Renne at Arcy-sur-Cure. Athena Review 2:41–46.Google Scholar
White, R. 2007. Systems of personal ornamentation in the Early upper Palaeolithic: methodological challenges and new observations, in Mellars, P., Boyle, K., Bar-Yosef, O. & Stringer, C. (ed.) Rethinking the human revolution: new behavioural and biological perspectives on the origin and dispersal ofmodern humans: 287–302. Cambridge: McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research.Google Scholar