Early upper Paleolithic bone needle from the main chamber of Denisova cave (based on research data from the 2016 excavations)

Bone needle, being unique in its well-preserved state, was recovered in 2016 in lithological horizon 11.2 in the Main Chamber of Denisova Cave. The main stages in manufacturing the needle were reconstructed as follows: obtaining a halffinished product from the tubular bone wall of a large mammal by cutting and splitting; shaping and grinding the obtained blank; double-sided drilling and finishing polish. The small diameter of the needle’s eye suggests using a tenuous thread of about 1 mm diameter. This research has made it possible to reveal the wear traces on the needle surface related to the long-term use of the product according to its function. A total of 13 items associated with the context for producing bone needles were recognized and studied in the Paleolithic collections from Denisova Cave. A comparison between these tools and artifacts from the other sites, which yielded similar finds, enables consideration of the bone needles found in layer 11 at Denisova Cave as the earliest articles of this type in Eurasia.