Acta Anthropologica Sinica ›› 2020, Vol. 39 ›› Issue (02): 223-235.doi: 10.16359/j.cnki.cn11-1963/q.2019.0015

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Archaeological discoveries and studies of ostrich eggshell beads

WEI Yi1, GAO Xing2,3,4   

  1. 1. Beijing Museum of Natural History, Beijing 100050
    2. Key Laboratory of Vertebrate Evolution and Human Origins, Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Acedamy of Sciences, Beijing 100044
    3. CAS Center for Excellence in Life and Paleoenvironment,Beijing 100044
    4. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049
  • Received:2018-05-02 Online:2020-05-15 Published:2020-07-17

Abstract:

Ostrich eggshell beads are among the main types of personal ornament since the Stone Age, offering vital clues for human behavioral evolution and cognitive development. As a form of information technology for interindividual and intergroup communication, ostrich eggshell beads are still widespread in African hunter-gatherer societies today. This article starts with ostrich eggshell structure and taxonomic identification, giving a general overview of the discoveries of Paleolithic beads made of ostrich eggshell, as well as relevant ethnological documentation and archaeological studies since the 20 th century. The authors expect the information provided could benefit Chinese archaeological research on ostrich eggshell beads.

Key words: Personal Ornaments, Ostrich eggshell Beads, Archaeological Research, Ethnological Documentation

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