Personal Ornaments from the Grotte du Renne at Arcy-sur-Cure

Randall White

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Publication Date

2001

Publication Title

Athena Review

Volume Number

2

Issue Number

4

Abstract

The debate on the relationship between Neanderthals and early modern humans (Cro-magnons) has often centered on human cognition and ability for symbolic thought. We feel fairly certain that early modern humans had such abilities, based on their sophisticated artwork, and on projections backward from ourselves; could their lack in Neanderthals have given us the adaptive “edge” that lead to our own continued survival over other early human populations? In an attempt to challenge this theory, researchers have looked for evidence which may indicate that Neanderthals, too, engaged in symbolic activities

The Châtelperronian and Aurignacian site of Grotte du Renne at Arcy-sur-Cure in central France has often been cited as yielding evidence for Neanderthal symbolic activities, especially in the production and use of personal ornamentation. Here, I analyze the personal ornaments attributed to the Aurignacian (level VII; 32,000-33,000 years old) and Châtelperronian (levels VIII, IX and X; 32,000-45,000 years old) with respect to ornaments from early Upper Paleolithic sites across Europe.

Keywords

Neanderthals, Modern Humans, Cro-Magnons, Grotte Du Renne, Arcy-Sur-Cure

Geographic Subject

France

Document Type

Article

Language

English

Identifier

SFS0073594_00001

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