Archaeological discoveries and studies of ostrich eggshell beads

doi:10.16359/j.cnki.cn11-1963/q.2019.0015

Abstract

Abstract:

Ostrich eggshell beads are among the main types of personal ornament since the Stone Age, offering vital clues for human behavioral evolution and cognitive development. As a form of information technology for interindividual and intergroup communication, ostrich eggshell beads are still widespread in African hunter-gatherer societies today. This article starts with ostrich eggshell structure and taxonomic identification, giving a general overview of the discoveries of Paleolithic beads made of ostrich eggshell, as well as relevant ethnological documentation and archaeological studies since the 20 ^th century. The authors expect the information provided could benefit Chinese archaeological research on ostrich eggshell beads.

Key words: Personal Ornaments, Ostrich eggshell Beads, Archaeological Research, Ethnological Documentation

CLC Number:

K871.11

WEI Yi, GAO Xing. Archaeological discoveries and studies of ostrich eggshell beads[J]. Acta Anthropologica Sinica, 2020, 39(02): 223-235.

Figures/Tables 5

References 79

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Sub species of Struthio camelus	pattern	number/ cm²	diameter (mm)
S. c. camelus	①single pores	100	0.02-0.03
S. c. spatzi	②groups of pores and grooves	70 2	0.01-0.02 0.5
S. c. australis	③reticulate grooves	12	0.5
S. c. massaicus	composite of ③&⑤	8	0.8
S. c. molybdophanes	⑤ clusters of 30-70 pores	10	0.1

Sub species of Struthio camelus	pattern	number/ cm²	diameter (mm)
S. c. camelus	①single pores	100	0.02-0.03
S. c. spatzi	②groups of pores and grooves	70 2	0.01-0.02 0.5
S. c. australis	③reticulate grooves	12	0.5
S. c. massaicus	composite of ③&⑤	8	0.8
S. c. molybdophanes	⑤ clusters of 30-70 pores	10	0.1

遗址	地区	年代	时段	出处
Boomplaas Cave	South Africa	42ka	MSA	[17-20]
Bushman Rockshelter	South Africa	Undated	MSA	[21]
Cave of Hearths	South Africa	Undated	MSA	[22-23]
Border Cave	South Africa	44760-40296 cal BP	LSA	[24]
Enkapune Ya Muto	Kenyan	47664-41595 cal BP	LSA	[25]
Kisese II	Tanzania	40609-32741 cal BP ; 22714-21225 cal BP	MSA/LSA	[17 ]
Mumba Rockshelter	Tanzania	32962-29515 cal BP ; 52 ka	MSA/LSA	[26]
Magubike Rockshelter	Tanzania	50 ka	MSA	[16]
White Paintings Shelter	Botswana	31145-29980 cal BP	LSA	[27]
Apollo 11 Cave	Namibia	24238-23356 cal BP	LSA	[28]
Spitzkloof Rockshelter	South Africa	Undated	MSA	[29]

遗址	地区	年代	时段	出处
Boomplaas Cave	South Africa	42ka	MSA	[17-20]
Bushman Rockshelter	South Africa	Undated	MSA	[21]
Cave of Hearths	South Africa	Undated	MSA	[22-23]
Border Cave	South Africa	44760-40296 cal BP	LSA	[24]
Enkapune Ya Muto	Kenyan	47664-41595 cal BP	LSA	[25]
Kisese II	Tanzania	40609-32741 cal BP ; 22714-21225 cal BP	MSA/LSA	[17 ]
Mumba Rockshelter	Tanzania	32962-29515 cal BP ; 52 ka	MSA/LSA	[26]
Magubike Rockshelter	Tanzania	50 ka	MSA	[16]
White Paintings Shelter	Botswana	31145-29980 cal BP	LSA	[27]
Apollo 11 Cave	Namibia	24238-23356 cal BP	LSA	[28]
Spitzkloof Rockshelter	South Africa	Undated	MSA	[29]

遗址	地区	层位	年代	数量	出处
Denisova Cave	阿尔泰	第11层中部3枚;第6层洞穴入口处3枚	37 kaBP	6	[30-31]
Tolbor 4	蒙古	第4层	31.3-30.4 kaBP cal	1	[32]
Tolbor 16	蒙古	/	38.3-36.9 kaBP cal	2	[33]
Dörölj 1	蒙古	/	38-33 kaBP cal	2	[34]
Podzvonkaya	外贝加尔	下部文化堆积1枚;东南部和东部堆积8枚	49-45 kaBP cal 42-40 kaBP cal	9	[35-36]
Khotyk	外贝加尔	AH 2-3	33-32kaBP cal 47-39 kaBP cal	1	[37]
Patne	印度	/	30 kaBP cal	2	[38-39]