engleski

Aspects of symbolic behaviour at Croatian Palaeolithic sites

This paper reviews evidence of symbolic behaviour from Croatian Middle and Upper Palaeolithic sites. The earliest finds that might point to symbolic behaviour came from the Middle Palaeolithic site of Krapina in the form of eagle’s talons potentially representing personal ornaments. Potential cases of cannibalism in the Middle Palaeolithic (Krapina, Vindija) are also discussed. Indisputable evidence of personal ornaments in Croatia comes from the early Upper Palaeolithic site of Šandalja II. Such ornaments are common at several late Upper Palaeolithic sites in the Adriatic region (Šandalja II, Pupićina peć, Vešanska peć, Romualdova pećina, Vlakno). Perforated sea snail shells from the Zala cave are the earliest evidence of the contact between Palaeolithic groups from the coast and the hinterland. In addition to personal ornaments, the Upper Palaeolithic symbolism is indicated also by simple geometric depictions on bone (Šandalja II) and lithic finds (Šandalja II and Vlakno), as well as by the production of ceramic figurines at Vela Spila.

symbolism ; Middle Palaeolithic ; Upper Palaeolithic ; Neandertals ; modern humans ; ornaments ; cannibalism ; Croatia

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