Personal Ornaments in the Mid Upper Palaeolithic East of the Carpathians

Abstract

Mid Upper Palaeolithic personal ornaments found in sites located between Carpathians and the Dniester river, more precisely in the settlements of Poiana Cireșului-Piatra Neamț, Mitoc-Malu Galben, the Brînzeni cave, the Duruitoarea Veche cave, Cosăuți, Climăuți II and Molodova V, have been analysed. The ornaments come from occupations falling in between 26-27 ka uncal. BP and 17 ka uncal. BP. The study of ornaments of this homogeneous and restricted area allow us to discuss the existence of some differences in the technical and stylistic choices of these symbolic productions. The article also serves a documentary purpose, as far as all ornaments discovered east of the Prut, in the Republic of Moldova, are only known through the publication of some drawings, which, moreover, are not always sufficiently precise and informative.