Signs and geometric images on worked bone items from the third dwelling object at Kostenki 11, layer 1a: context, technique, stylistics

The paper presents the results of analysis of the context, technological methods of manufacturing and features of the ornamentation on pieces of art from excavations at the Kostenki 11 Upper Palaeolithic site (occupation layer 1a) during 2014-2018. Two items were made from mammoth tusk, these are ornamented hoes with two-sided beveled ends. The other two items are fragments of ornamented mammoth ribs. All items exhibit ornamentation bands made of engraved lines. The same production techniques were used to make main elements of the ornament and the pattern on all objects of art. However, forms, combination of bands with other decorative elements and semantic signs are different. We believe that diversity of technological methods applied to manufacture ornamented items, is directly linked to their semantic nature. This factor makes these items look very different from other artifacts from this collection of worked bone.