Earliest decorated jewellery discovered
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A decorated ivory pendant of mammoth bone has been radiocarbon dated to 41,500 years ago, and represents the earliest known ornate jewellery made by humans in Eurasia
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Warsaw
POLAND
Krakow

100km 60 miles
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Stajnia Cave: Pendant found in 2010 with horse-bone awl tool, dated to Early Upper Palaeolithic (42,000-37,000 years ago)
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Exfoliated area
Hole 1
Hole 2
Punctuations
1cm

Patterns of over 50 puncture marks in looping curve, and two complete holes, could represent hunting tallies – mathematical counting system – or lunar notations corresponding to monthly cycle of moon or sun

Animal bones found alongside pendant and awl may indicate humans were starting to produce small and transportable art as they spread across Eurasia

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Source: Nature Pictures: Antonino Vazzana – BONES Lab, Marcin Żarski
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