Discovery of plywood structure in Sphenothallus from Gurovo Formation (Mississippian), Central Russia (original) (raw)
Two elongated fla t bone plates with several perforations 2-3 mm in diameter were found during excavations o f the peat, bog site Stanovoye 4 on Upper Volga, Central Russia. Both come from cut 3, layer III, dated to late Preboreal period by pollen and about 9220 BP uncal. by 14-C. They look much like pendants, but the use-wear analysis revealed clear traces, indicating that they were used fo r a different purpose. Each o f them produced similar patterns, indicating that only two perforations were used at the same time. Wide groove runs across a side o f the dorsal face o f the plate, falls into the first perforation, comes out o f it, runs along the ventral face o f the plate and falls into the second perforation, comes out o f it and runs across the dorsal face o f the plate to its edge. Polish and long fine longitudinal striations, parallel to each other are clearly seen under stereomicroscope at magnifications 8x-32x. Such traces indicate, that some rather dry and dirty> material was pulled through these holes. Most probably these were used fo r stretching and calibration o f various strings, cords and small diameter ropes, made from hide, sinew and plant materials. They were especially important in the Mesolithic as bowstrings and cords fo r fastening points to arrow, leister and spear shafts, fo r making nets and many other things. Sinews and hide are not preserved, but twisted cords and ropes made from various plant materials come from Mesolithic sites o f Central Russia and other places. Similar plates were also found at late Mesolithic sites on Upper Volga and in Oleneostrovski late Mesolithic cemetery, indicating that the skill o f producing veiy accurate strings and cords was well developed in the Mesolithic o f the East European forest zone. Resume. Deux plaques allongees plates en os avec plusieurs perforations (2-3 mm de diametre) furent trouvees durant la fouille du site de marais tourbeux de Stanovoye 4 sur la Volga superieure, en Russie centrale. Toutes deux de la coupe 3, niveau III, date du Preboreal final par les pollens et environ 9220 BP en C14 non calibre. Elies ressemblent beaucoup a des pendentifs, mais les analyses d 'usure montrent des traces qui indiquent clairement qu 'elles furent utilisees a un autre usage. Chacune d 'ellespresente le тёте arrangement indiquant que settles deux perforations etaient utilisees en тёте temps. Un large sillon court ait travers d'un cote de la face dorsale, tombe dans la premiere perforation, en sort et court le long de la face ventrale avant de tomber dans la seconde perforation, en ressort et continue le long de la face dorsale ju sq u 'au bord. Un poli et de longues et fines striations paralleles les tines aux autres sont clairement visibles sous tin grossissement de 8-32x. De telles traces indiquent qu 'tine matiere plutot seche et sale fu t tiree au travers de ces trous. Tres probablement, Us furent utilises pour etirer et calibrer diverses cordes ou ficelles de peatt, tendon et de fibres vegetales. Celles-ci etaient tres importantes au Mesolithique pour les cordes d 'arc, pour la fixation des pointes sur lew s fits , pour la fabrication des filets et pour maintes autres choses. La peau et les tendons ne sont pas conserves mais on connait des cordes torsadees et des liens faits dans diverses matieres vegetales trouvees dans des sites mesolithiques de Russie centrale et d 'ailleurs. Des plaques similaires ont aussi ete retrouvees dans des sites du Meolithique final de la Volga superieure and dans le cimetiere de Oleneostrovki, indiquant que I 'habilete pour produire des cordes et ficelles tres calibrees etait repandue dans le Mesolithique de la zone forestiere d Europe orientale.