Denisovan Ancestry in East Eurasian and Native American Populations

23 February 2017

A rhomboid plaquette from Arkfeld Site

Arkfeld Site, #44FK731, 'Rhomboid plaquette'
Clear Brook, Virginia

Adam Arkfeld has identified a recurring pattern of these diamond-shaped stones which have been sculpted using a "bend-break" or "buffer technique" to make the relatively straight sides. They have been found at several portable rock art sites and likely had some kind of symbolic significance to their Stone Age makers.

19 February 2017

Paleolithic hand puppets survive in stone from Site #23JP1222, Jasper County, Missouri

 
'Human face' detail on 'hand puppet'
Stacy Dodd and Rod Weber find, The Old Route 66 Zoo portable rock art site

I have interpreted a number of pieces on this blog as stone 'hand puppets' because they present human or animal imagery and have tapering projections which seem to be very suitable 'handles' to present the imagery. They have come from a number of locations in addition to this one. Perhaps these objects were childrens' toys, or maybe they were used as props in folkloric story-telling.



'Human head profile looking left as a hand puppet'

My illustration of an 'eye,' 'mouth with teeth' and 'handle' on this second example from Site #23JP1222. Stacy Dodd processed the image digitally and the eye and mouth may be seen in addition to two possible 'nostrils' at the 'nose.' (Click photos to expand.)

14 February 2017

Queensland portable rock art typically found at 1 to 2 meters depth


Human facial profile worked onto translucent stone material
 Rebecca Hainsworth & John Rogers finds, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Please note the attention give to the 'chin' which is a distinguishing phenotypic feature of anatomically modern humans.

Two views of the same piece of glass art found with the iconic portable rock art. Possible bird facing right in photo 1, possible creature's head looking right in photo 2.

A worked boulder 'face-mask' with missing left eye and distortion to the left side of the face in a possible example of this motif in Australia in addition to ones found in North America, Europe and South East Asia.

Animal facing right

Wombat

Two sides of the same stone have worked human (robust type?) head and facial profiles, seen here facing each other. I call pieces like this 'literal bi-faces.'

Rebecca and John typically find this kind portable rock art material in the course of their excavation work at depths between 1 and 2 meters.

04 February 2017

Zoo Whooo! A paleolithic owl sculpture from Missouri

Owl portable rock art sculpture

Stacy Dodd and Rod Weber find, The Old Route 66 Zoo mega portable rock site producing dozens of figure stones and sculptures. Site #23JP1222, Jasper County, Missouri

This is a classic North American Paleolithic bird sculpture but this art has not been acknowledged, recognized or studied by Archaeology officialdom despite its potential to provide far more cultural information than studying tool sets alone.