On holes and strings: Earliest displays of human adornment in the Middle Palaeolithic

A significant shift in human adornment practices occurred between 160,000 and 120,000 years ago at UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Israel. Before 120 ka BP, modern humans collected Glycymeris shell valves without perforation or manipulation, suggesting symbolic significance despite the lack of functional modification. However, by around 120 ka BP, naturally perforated shells were intentionally gathered and suspended on strings, as demonstrated by use-wear analysis and experimental replication. This shift reflects both the desire for adornment and the technological capability to create wearable items. The findings from Misliya Cave (240–160 ka BP) align with earlier discoveries in South Africa, while the perforated shells from Qafzeh Cave (120 ka BP) mirror patterns seen across North Africa and the Levant, indicating a broader cultural development during this period.

Bar-Yosef Mayer, D. E., Groman-Yaroslavski, I., Bar-Yosef, O., Hershkovitz, I., Kampen-Hasday, A., Vandermeersch, B., Zaidner, Y., & Weinstein-Evron, M. (2020). On holes and strings: Earliest displays of human adornment in the Middle Palaeolithic. Plos One, 15(7), e0234924. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0234924