Personal Ornaments of the Swabian Aurignacian

Archaeological excavations in the caves of the Swabian Jura, Germany, have uncovered over 600 mammoth ivory beads dating to the Aurignacian period. These artifacts, primarily from Hohle Fels cave and backdirt near Vogelherd cave, exhibit a dominance of double-perforated bead forms, suggesting they served as personal ornaments. The variety in their designs points to the emergence of identity formation among the Aurignacian people during this era. The study provides a detailed overview of these ornaments, highlighting their cultural significance and contribution to understanding early human symbolism.

Wolf, S., & Conard, N. J. (2015). Personal Ornaments of the Swabian Aurignacian. Palethnologie, 7. https://doi.org/10.4000/palethnologie.897