engleski

Eagle Claw Jewelry from Krapina at 130, 000 Years Ago

We review cut marks and other modifications on white-tailed eagle (Haliaëtus albicilla) talons and a phalanx from the Krapina Neandertal site. Eight talons, from at least three different eagles, were recovered by Gorjanović-Kramberger in 1901 in the top level at Krapina, which only preserves Neandertal human remains, Mousterian tools and MIS 5e fauna. They were identified and figured by Lambrecht in 1915, but neither he, nor Gorjanović-Kramberger, nor anyone else who has subsequently studied the talons, recognized human manipulations on them. In a survey of the remains from the site, one of us (DR) noticed cut marks on a few of the talons and subsequent analysis revealed multiple cut marks on the proximal end of four talons, abraded/polished areas on seven talons and nicks on the margins of three of the largest talon blades. The cut marks are V-shaped and similar in appearance and position to cut marks on single eagle talons at other, later Neandertal sites, such as Combe- Grenal and Fumane. Some cut marks are likely related to disarticulation with stone tools, but many have smoothed margins, possibly indicating the effects of binding. Abrasion and densely polished areas suggest they were part of an assemblage as documented (on shells) at Blombos. The associated phalanx 3 has at least 21 cut marks on the proximal and distal surfaces. How these talons and the phalanx were organized into jewelry is difficult to reconstruct, but together as an assemblage they represent a powerful sign that Neandertals used symbols. Personal ornaments are commonly attributed to anatomically modern Homo sapiens and are considered evidence of complex behavior. Dated at 130 kyr, it is clear that Krapina Neandertals composed ornamentation without the influence of modern humans.

Neandertal jewelry ; eagle talons

nije evidentirano