Archaeology, Ethnology & Anthropology of Eurasia 39 (1) 2011

Annotation:  Three Scenarios of the Middle to Upper Paleolithic Transition. Scenario 2: The Middle to Upper Paleo Chronology and Periodization of the Neolithic in the Upper and Middle Kama Region Paleolithic Art of the Carpathian-Dniester Region Raw Materials and Paste from Wheel-Thrown Ceramics from the Gnezdovo Burial Ground The Origins of Lead Archaeological Artifacts Using Mass Spectrometry Analysis Kelteminar Arrowheads from the Altai Dagger from the Late Bronze Age Settlement on the Lyuskus River The Archekas Celt and the Issue of the Seima-Turbino Period in the Kuznetsk Basin and in the Achins Bone Anthropomorphic Sculpture from the Ust-Polui Sanctuary Images in Bronze from the Sarovka Ritual Complex: Reconstructing Semantics Information-Theoretical Database Management System in the Context of Monuments Dating to the Pre-Sc Ritual Complexes of the Bolshoye Storozhevoye Fortifi ed Settlement in the Middle Don Area Erlik Khan in the Traditional Worldview of the Khakas Copper Casting in the Daily Life and Ritual Practices of Komi Old Believers Dogs in the Traditional Worldview of the Chuvash People A Proximal Pedal Phalanx of a Paleolithic Hominin from Denisova Cave, Altai Secular Dental Changes in the Populations of the Armenian Highland: Evolutionary and Ecological Asp A Nonmetric Cranial Study of the Andronovo Series from the Altai   

Paleolithic Art of the Carpathian-Dniester Region

E.A. Koroleva.

Based on archaeological fi nds from the Upper Paleolithic sites of the Carpathian-Dniester Region, Republic of Moldova (Molodova I, Brinzeni I, Cosăuţi, Mitoс Malul Galben, and Climăuţi II), compared with objects of portable art of other regions and with ethnological data, the origin of certain images and artistic canons is traced. A hierarchical organization of all elements of a portable work of art, paralleled by certain ritual practices, is relevant for the understanding of the early religious symbolism.

Keywords: Mousterian, Upper Paleolithic, Bronze Age, griffades, geometric designs, color symbolism, female representations, amulets, bear cult, ritual.