Ivory pendant made from mammoth bone 'may be earliest known example of ornate ...

Ivory pendant made from mammoth bone 'may be earliest known example of ornate ...
Ivory pendant made from mammoth bone 'may be earliest known example of ornate ...
Ancient bling! 41,500-year-old decorated ivory pendant made from MAMMOTH bone is discovered in a cave in Poland and may be the earliest known example of ornate jewellery in Eurasia, study claims The stunning pendant was found in a cave in Poland back in 2010 Using radiocarbon dating, researchers have dated it back 41,500 years This places it within the record of earliest dispersals of Homo sapiens in Europe 

View
comments

An intricately decorated ivory pendant made from mammoth bone has been discovered in Poland, and may be the oldest example of ornate jewellery found in Eurasia yet.

The pendant dates back around 41,500 years, placing it within the record of the earliest dispersals of Homo sapiens in Europe.

It features patterns of over 50 puncture marks in an irregular looping curve, and two complete holes, which could represent hunting tallies or lunar notations, according to the researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology.

'If the Stajnia pendant's looping curve indicates a lunar analemma or kill scores will remain an open question,' said Adam Nadachowski, co-author of the study.

'However, it is fascinating that similar decorations appeared independently across Europe.'

A 41,500 year old oval-shaped ivory pendant made from mammoth bone (pictured) represents the earliest known example of ornate jewellery made by humans in Eurasia, a new study claims

A 41,500 year old oval-shaped ivory pendant made from mammoth bone (pictured) represents the earliest known example of ornate jewellery made by humans in Eurasia, a new study claims

What does the pattern on the pendant mean? 

The features patterns of over 50 puncture marks in an irregular looping curve, and two complete holes, which could represent hunting tallies or lunar notations, according to the researchers.

'If the Stajnia pendant's looping curve indicates a lunar analemma or kill scores will remain an open question,' said Adam Nadachowski, co-author of the study.

'However, it is fascinating that similar decorations appeared independently across Europe.'

Advertisement

The pendant was discovered in Poland's Stajnia Cave in 2010, alongside animal bones

read more from dailymail.....

NEXT The UK's most sustainable restaurants are revealed - and it's bad news for KFC ... trends now