Review article

Carved finds from Šandalja II

Mia Čujkević-Plečko orcid.org/0000-0001-8914-9407 ; F. Ivanščaka 6, 10430 Samobor, Croatia
Ivor Karavanić orcid.org/0000-0003-1452-8394 ; Department of Archaeology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

Geometric motifs were a frequent occurrence in the Upper
Paleolithic period. They are widespread geographically, and in
Croatia we encounter such motifs at two sites: Vlakno on Dugi
Otok and Šandalja II in Istria. This paper offers analysis of the
material from the Upper Paleolithic layers at Šandalja II where
eight carved artefacts have been found. Based on the way they
were made, the items from Šandalja II fall into either simpler
or more complex categories. There are various interpretations for
the carved finds, and this paper poses the possibility that the
items have a symbolic meaning. Recently, geometric motifs have
been garnering a lot of attention from archaeologists, resulting in
multiple theories about the possible function of the motifs. One
of the first explanations was offered by Alexander Marshack
(1972) who considered the carvings on the respective finds to
provide evidence that Upper Paleolithic communities tracked
lunar changes and that the carved notches indicate notational
systems. J. D. Lewis-Williams and T. Dowson (1988) offered
their explanation in terms of entoptic phenomenon, and their
theory explains the extensive prevalence of geometric motifs. In
more recent investigations, G. von Petzinger (2016) suggested
that the motifs represent the first steps of an early graphic
communication.

Keywords

carved finds; Šandalja II; geometric motifs; symbolic meaning; entoptic phenomenon; graphic communication

Hrčak ID:

209255

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/209255

Publication date:

12.11.2018.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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