Towards a Better Understanding of the Origins of Body Decoration - Bednarik - 1995

The hypothesis that beads and pendants mark the advent of body decoration, and that they do not occur before the Aurignacian period of Europe, is examined. The global evidence relating to the beginnings of bead production is reviewed and it is concluded that bead-like objects were commonly produced long before the Upper Palaeolithic. The taphonomy of this evidence is also considered, and in particular, it is noted that most types of body decoration are not likely to result in archaeologically detectable evidence. It is proposed that the available archaeological record would not be adequate to refute Pre-Aurignacian body decoration even under the mostfavourable conditions. Moreover, the existence of Pre-Aurignacian beads effectively refutes the hypothesis relating to Aurignacian beads.

Keywords

Beads - Palaeolithic - Ochre - Decoration - Metamorphology

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