![]() |
![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
This Page has been updated! If you are a return visitor you will need to reload/refresh your browser in order to see any new content. THE AMATEUR ARCHAEOLOGIST ONLINE "Palaeolithic Whistles or Figurines? A Preliminary Survey of Pre-historic Phalangeal Figurines." ABSTRACTS & LINK TO ARTICLE ABSTRACT. Prehistoric phalanges with anthropic holes through one side of their shafts have usually been interpreted as whistles. But identical bones are used by several peoples as human effigies -- most commonly of women and babies. Distal limb bones with incised or sculpted heads, eyes, arms, and vulvas prove that such bones were also interpreted anthropomorphically by Eurasian cultures in the past. The use of phalangeal figurines from central Siberia to Greenland also suggests that the practice spread around the Arctic from ancient sources. Ethnographic examples illustrate a few roles women have played in the region's cold weather economies and how female effigies reflect such roles but are not offered as strict analogies to Palaeolithic counterparts. Instead, a case is made from new internal readings of several prehistoric objects incorporating feminine imagery that some ancient feminine images reflect a vision of women in keeping with the division of labor in northern hunter-gatherer subsistence models. The possible existence of perforated phalanges from the Middle Palaeolithic and even earlier is noted. A protocol of tests is suggested for determining whether their holes are anthropic or natural. If any turn out to be man-made, then the conclusion that prehistoric perforated phalanges are likely figurines can be extended to archaic humans like Neanderthals. TO DOWNLOAD FULL PDF: ![]() The Amateur Archaeologist welcomes articles and communications from members; please note that authors waive any claim to copyright if they submit materials for publishing in the Society's journal. Advertisers are welcome, and they need not be members of the ASAA. Please write for advertising rate cards and specifications. The Society does not furnish its membership list to anyone or any organization for promotional mailings. |