A mammoth-bone pendant of ivory with intricately decorated decoration was found in Poland. It may be one of the oldest examples of ornate jewellery in Eurasia.
This pendant is approximately 41,500 years old, which places it in the top ten most recent Homo sapiens dispersal records.
The pattern includes over 50 puncture marks on an irregular looping curve with two complete holes. These could either be hunting tallies, or lunar notations according to researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology.
Adam Nadachowski co-author, said, “If the Stajnia pendant’s looping curve suggests a lunar analemma, or kill scores, that will remain open to question.”
“However it is amazing that similar decorations have appeared independent across Europe.”

An oval-shaped, 41,500 years old, ivory pendant made from mammothbone (pictured) is the oldest example of Eurasian ornate jewellery. A new study has confirmed this claim.
Along with animal bones and tools, the pendant was found in Poland’s Stajnia Cave.
Researchers now use radiocarbon dating for the assessment of its age and conclude that the pendant is likely to be around 41,500 year old.
Sahra Tallamo was the lead of the research and said that the determination of the precise age of the jewelry was essential for its cultural attribution. She is thrilled with the outcome.
“This study demonstrates how the latest radiocarbon-methodological advancements allow us to minimize the number of samples and get highly exact dates with very little error.
“Radiocarbon dating is necessary to date ornaments found during fieldwork and complex stratigraphic sequences, if we’re to solve the question of when mobileiary arts emerged in Palaeolithic periods.
Researchers were able, using 3D modeling tools, to dig deeper into the structure and design of the pendant.
Stefano Benazzi co-author said, “Through 3D modeling techniques the finds were practically reconstructed, and the pendant appropriately repaired, which allowed detailed measurements and supported the description of decorations.”

In 2010, the pendant and a horse-bone tool called an awl were found in Poland’s Stajnia Cave. Experts speculate that animal bones found alongside the pendant might indicate that human beings began producing small-sized and portable art some 41,500 year ago.
Studies in the past have shown that Stajnia Cave was once home to both Neanderthals as well as Homo sapiens.
According to researchers, the pdenant could have been there before its creator went on hunting expedition.
Wioletta Nowaczewska co-author said, “This piece shows the extraordinary creativity and manual skills that members of the Homo Sapiens group that occupied the site.”
“The thickness of this plate measures approximately 3.7 millimetres. This demonstrates an incredible precision when carving the holes and punctures for the plates.

Studies in the past have shown that Stajnia Cave was once home to both Neanderthals as well as Homo sapiens.
Resechers are hopeful that finings in Poland will provide some insight into the fate of Homo Sapiens.
Andrea Picin, coauthor of this study added, “The ages the ivory pendant, and the bone anwl from Stajnia Cave all show that Homo Sapiens was dispersed as far back as Central and Western Europe.”
“This extraordinary result will alter the perception of how adaptable these groups were, and put into doubt the monocentric model for diffusion of artistic innovation in Aurignacian.”