In the new study, archaeologists analyzed five inscribed artifacts from the Paleolithic period in central Levantin. Two engraved levalovacores from the Manot and Kahuze caves, engraved plackets from the site of Kneitra, and flakes and cortical blades from the Amdo caves. Their findings highlight the intentionality behind the sculpture and provide important insights into the development of abstract thinking and the cultural complexity of mid-Paleolithic society.
Carved cortical revarova core of the Manot Cave. Image credit: E. Ostrovsky/M. Smelansky/E. Paixão/L. Schunk.
Until now, the intentionality of central Paleolithic incised stone artifacts has been widely accepted and not fully supported by empirical testing.
Many archaeologists view these marks as functional and were created through the use of tools or natural wear.
Being skeptical of the existence of abstract or symbolic thinking in early hominins, understanding that symbolic actions such as art and abstract expressions appear much later than human evolution and are particularly relevant to modern people. I have.
Current research challenges the view by providing evidence of intentional and symbolic sculptures before global colonization by modern humans.
This study focuses on artifacts from major Levantin sites, including Dr. May Goldberger, an archaeologist at Hebrew and Ben Gurion University, as well as the outdoor sites of Manot Cave, Amdo Cave, Kahuze Cave and Queneitra. I guessed it.
Using advanced 3D surface analysis, the researchers examined the shape and pattern of the incision to distinguish intentional engraving from functional marks.
The findings reveal significant differences. The artifacts of Manot, Kahuze and Queneitra feature careful sculptures with geometric patterns that match the surface topography, highlighting aesthetic and symbolic intent.
In contrast, the incisions of artifacts from Amud Cave are shallow and unscattered, consistent with their functional use as an appraider.
“Abstract thinking is the basis of human cognitive evolution,” said Dr. Goder-Goldberger.
“The intentional sculpture found in these artifacts emphasizes the ability to represent symbolic representation and proposes a society with high conceptual capabilities.”
“The methodology we employed not only emphasize the intentional nature of these sculptures, but also provides for the first time a comparative framework for studying similar artifacts, enriching understanding of mid-term paleolithic society.” Zentrum für Archäogie, University of Johannes Gutenberg, University of Algarve.
“The inscribed artifacts of Qafzeh, Queneitra, and Manot are isolated initiatives within time series and geographical contexts, but the similarity of the shared properties and pattern structure of the incision itself suggests intentional and pre-determined behavior. I am.
“These findings provide a greater understanding of symbolic behavior and provide important insights into the cognitive and cultural development of early hominins.”
“This study illustrates an important step in understanding the scope of our ancestors' symbolic behavior and bridging the gap between the use of functional tools and abstract representation.”
Team paper Published in the journal Archaeological and anthropological sciences.
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M. Goder-Goldberger et al. 2025. An incised stone craft from the complexity of ancient stones and human behavior in the central Levantin. Archaeol Anthropol Sci 17, 27; doi:10.1007/s12520-024-02111-4
Source: www.sci.news
