Page 24 - J. C. Turner - History and Science of Knots

12 History and Science of Knots

Australia is over 30 000 years old [22]. In a number of cases the perforations of
pendants have been studied microscopically, and the wear from the supporting
cord has been observed [4].
Stone axe heads grooved down the middle to take handles are known
from the Huon Peninsula, New Guinea, from 40-45 000 years ago [13], from
northern Australia from beyond 32 000 years [23], but from Europe at only
much less than 10 000 years ago. It seems unlikely that resins alone could hold
the head in place; cordage would have been needed.

Fig. 3. (left) Female figurine of soft limestone. The head was separated and has
been replaced in this reconstruction . Kostenki I, Russia, 21-24 000 years B.P.
(right ) Detail of hip belt of fragmentary female torso from Pavlov , Moravia, of
fired clay. Multiple , carefully and evenly twined flexible elements are clearly recog-
nisable. Similar belts on Russian stone figurines are usually modelled as zigzag
patterns. Both after [17].
All of these possible uses of strings and ropes are based on indirect evidence,
although much of it is quite convincing. But we also have some detailed and
sometimes highly naturalistic depictions of decorative materials on human
figurines from the Upper Palaeolithic. They are usually female and naked,
except for belts, girdles or harness-like straps. Because of their consistent
appearance it has been suggested that they have symbolic meanings, perhaps
referring to the wearer's status [21]. Good examples of this occur on several
Russian limestone or ivory figurines from Kostenki. In principle, these could
represent decorated hide straps, linked beads of some sort or perhaps even
braids, all of which would need cordage and knots (Fig. 3). But one belt from
Pavlov, Moravia, on a fired clay figurine [17], has a much clearer structure,
carefully twined triple (or perhaps double) flexible straps (or perhaps three,