Page 22 - J. C. Turner - History and Science of Knots

10 History and Science of Knots

There is also evidence from France of non-perforated pendants which were
grooved, apparently for fastening to cordage (Fig. 2); knots must have been
used, perhaps different knots from those used elsewhere. Some of these pen-
dants were associated with Neanderthals of the Upper Palaeolithic [311.

3cm

Fig. 2. Two perforated teeth and a grooved fossil shell , from the Chatelperronian
of Neanderthals in Grotte du Renne, Arcy-sur-Cure, France (circa 33 000 years
B.P.): and two pendants , grooved for attachment to strings , from the Aurignacian
I of Abri Blanchard (left) and Abri Cellier (right, two views), both in France
(probably about 33 000 years old).

Modern Humankind

There is still much controversy about the origin of anatomically truly modern
humans, Homo sapiens sapiens, but many believe that they originated in
sub-Saharan Africa, some 200 000 years ago. By 92 000 years ago, they had
reached Israel, and then spread almost throughout the world. In western
Europe, they became known as Cro-Magnon people, dating from 30 000 years
ago. New tools of stone, bone and antler were produced, with clearer evidence
of planned design; for the first time, both objects with plentiful decoration,
and representational art have been found.
The remains of many Upper Palaeolithic tent-like and more complex
dwellings have been found in western Europe, Poland, Russia, the Ukraine
and Siberia, dating older than about 10 000 years ago.
We have no direct evidence of the use of snares, but it is extremely unlikely
that Palaeolithic people would not have used such a reliable method of hunting.
The cave bear seems to have been hunted some 30 000-35 000 years ago, in its
hibernation haunts such as the deep caves of the European Alps. Arrangements
of deep claw marks of this animal have been found on the walls of some caves
[6]. They seem to indicate that an animal was restrained in its reach, while
clawing the wall in different directions. Such locations seem to coincide with
those most suitable for placing snares , so perhaps these hunters knew better