Abstracts - International Initiative for Georgian Cultural Studies

Nino Jakeli
Georgian National Museum. Georgia
Ancient Jewelry and Other Works of Art from the Upper Paleolithic Site of Dzudzuana Cave (Western
Georgian)
The beginning of the Upper Paleolithic Age, one of the most challenging and important periods in
the history of the mankind, dates from about 40,000 years ago. The period saw the emergence of modern
humans and their settlement on large areas of the ancient world. Qualitative changes took place in stone
industry, including the diversification and standardization of tools, introduction of bone and horn tools and
the advancement of social and internal tribal relations into a new phase. Hunting technique developed and
means of self-expression, such as body painting and jewelry and, most importantly, art, emerged.
Georgia, in particular its western region, is rich in Upper Paleolithic artifacts but lacks evidence of artworks.
Therefore the discovery of minor works of art in the cave of Dzudzuana is highly important. One
should emphasize that all these items come from well-stratified and dated layers.
Upper Paleolithic men used ochre-a natural paint-to serve their self-expression and aesthetic needs. This
is evident by the numerous ochre fragments found in the layers of the cave, and by the discovery of a bowlshaped
stone vessels with the traces of ochre verified through the laboratory analyses.
Among the numerous bone tools characteristic of the Upper Paleolithic Age, only one ornamented artifact
was descovered. This is the fish-shaped awl with a pierced end and, a symbolic representation of an
animal.
Hunter-getherers would adorn themselves with jewelry made of shells and animal teeth, both of which
had a religious function. Men of the time, for whom hunting was a means of survival, used worked teeth as
amulets. Ten amulets of this type have been found at Dzudzuana.
Paleolithic man pierced not only bone and animal teeth but stone too. Three items of stone jewelry-two
strings of beads and an oval pendant surrounded by thirty-one notches-have been discovered at Dzudzuana.
Whether the notches are just ornaments or they also bear symbolism is difficult to say.
Also of particular note is an ornamented plate of bone. The “averse” of this plate is embellished with
rounded grooves and bears a point. Similar points, though not piercing, can be seen on the other side too.
The “reverse” is drawn with intersecting lines forming rectangles. The locations where the lines intersect
are marked with relatively smaller points. These geometric patterns are used to create an artistic image.
Regrettably, the item survives in a broken form.
Another interesting find is an ornamented stone pendant, which can be considered as one of the earliest
works of jewelry discovered thus far on the territory of Georgia. The pendant was found in the C layer. It
dates to 22,000-21,000 BP. The pendent shows a so-called “slanting cross”, which seems to be inserted into
a circle topped by a “straight cross”. The end of the pendent has a concave corner. Presumably the cross is
linked to the four sides of the universe. It is widely accepted that primitive man could easily orientate, and
thus one can conclude that the cross carved on this item may refer to the four sides of the universe, while
the circle around it must symbolize infinity. The “Paleolithic Venus,” which finds an affinity with Western
European’s so-called “key-shaped” figurines, remains unique to the present day.
Neither Georgia nor its neighboring Near East have preserved wall paintings. The primeval art surviving
here is mostly represented by forms of minor art. Cultural unity is manifested not only in stone industry,
but in art as well.
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ANCIENT GEORGIA