Journal of Archaeological Science
Published in association with the Society Archaeological Sciences
Volume 85 September 2017
ISSN:0305-4403
A technological and morphological study of Late Paleolithic ostrich
eggshell beads from Shuidonggou, North China
AUTHOR: Yi Wei, Francesco d’Errico, Marian Vanhaeren, Fei Peng, Fuyou Chen, Xing Gao
KEYWORDS: Beads Technology, Ornament, Style, Experimental archaeology, Struthio anderssoni, Chinese Paleolithic
ABSTRACT: We report the results of a detailed analysis of ostrich eggshells (OES) beads derived mainly from Cultural Layer2 (CL2) of locality 2 at the Shuidonggou site (SDG2) in North China, which is dated to ca.31 ka Cal BP. The eggshells belong to the extinct ostrich Struthio anderssoni. Based on microscopic examination, morphometric analysis, and experimental replication, we identify clear differences in morphology, size, technology and style. Result indicate that the technology of bead making is similar to that used in most Middle and Later Stone Age sites in Africa and recorded ethnographically. Both well-made and poorly-crafted OES beads were produced at SDG2. Drilling experiments conducted in the framework of this study show that hafted stone points were probably used to make the perforations. Only occasionally beads were deliberately polished on inner and outer eggshell surfaces. Beads morphology and technology suggest that distinct types of beads were made by different individual craftspeople. This supports the hypothesis that several human groups visited the Shuidonggou site and used OES beads as an information technology about 31 ka Cal BP.
中国北方旧石器时代晚期水洞沟遗址出土鸵鸟蛋壳串珠的
技术和形态研究
作者：魏屹，Francesco d’Errico, Marian Vanhaeren，彭菲，陈福友，高星
关键词：串珠技术，装饰品，风格，实验考古学，安氏鸵鸟，中国旧石器
摘要：本文是对中国北方水洞沟第2地点第2文化层出土的鸵鸟蛋壳串珠进行详尽分析，其年代测定为距今31000年。这些蛋壳均属于已灭绝的安氏鸵鸟。利用显微镜观察，形态学分析和重复性实验，本文将从标本形态、大小、技术以及风格的不同进行研究。结果表明，串珠的制作技术与非洲大多数中晚期的石器时代遗址以及所记录民族学材料非常相似。水洞沟第2地点也出土了制作精美和参差不齐的串珠。钻孔实验显示，有柄的尖状器很有可能被用来当做钻孔的工具。少数串珠会在制作时对蛋壳内外进行磨制加工。串珠的形态和技术表明，不同类型的的串珠由不同的工匠制作的。为在距今31000年，有几个不同的人群曾迁徙到水洞沟遗址并且使用串珠的假设提供了技术支持。
