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Middle Paleolithic shell beads in Israel and Algeria
Marian Vanhaereny1, Francesco d'Errico, Chris Stringer
1Centre for the Evolution of Cultural Diversity, University College London, 31-34 Gordon Square, London WC1H OPY, UK. Ethnologie Préhistorique, CNRS UMR 7041, 21 Allée de l'Université, F-92023 Nanterre, France. m.vanhaeren@ucl.ac.uk
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|June 24, 2006
Summary
Early modern humans in Asia and Africa used shell beads for symbolic purposes, evidenced by perforated marine shells dating back 100,000 to 135,000 years. This discovery pushes back the timeline for personal decoration by modern humans significantly.
Area of Science:
- Archaeology
- Paleoanthropology
- Human Origins
Background:
- Modern humans (Homo sapiens) exhibit complex behaviors, including symbolic expression.
- The use of personal adornment is considered a key indicator of cognitive development and cultural transmission.
Observation:
- Perforated marine gastropod shells were found at the Skhul (Western Asia) and Oued Djebbana (North Africa) sites.
- These shells were deliberately selected, transported from the seashore, and modified for symbolic use, as indicated by their context and comparison to natural shell assemblages.
Findings:
- Elemental and chemical analyses confirm a shell bead from Skhul originates from a layer dated 100,000–135,000 years ago.
- This dating is approximately 25,000 years earlier than previously established evidence for personal decoration by modern humans in South Africa.
Implications:
- The findings suggest that the origins of personal decoration and symbolic behavior in modern humans are older and more widespread than previously thought.
- This evidence challenges existing models of human cognitive evolution and dispersals out of Africa.
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