As Related to the Interpretation of an Engraved Rib from the Upper Paleolithic Site of Mezhirich (Ukraine)

Abstract

Among great variety of engraved mammoth's bones excavated at the Mezhirich site (Middle reaches of the Dnieper River, Ukraine) the artifact that was discovered in the fourth dwelling, made of the distal part of a mammoth rib, deserves our special attention and scrutiny. The character of its engraving has correlations with the stylized figures of women of the East Epigravettian period. Moreover, it has some similar features with the so-called “shovels” from the Kostenki-Avdeevo paleolithic sites. Also, we can note some typological similarities with the tools made of ribs of the Neolithic period of Middle East. This unique item can also be associated with some Eurasian ethnographic artifacts. Having studied this engraved piece of rib, the author has also compared it with the available analogue databases. Thus, he has come to the conclusion that this item could have been dedicated to the obstetric aid spheres.