This tiny mammoth ivory plaque from Adorant from the Geißenklösterle cave has 39 notches on the edges in groups of 6, 13, 7, and 13. Reverse side has 49 notches in four vertical lines (13, 10, 12, 13). Combined total of 88 notches equals three lunar cycles (~88.5 days). Could depict Orion constellation. Dated 35,000-32,000 years old. Europe's oldest astronomical calendar? 🌙⭐
Adorant plaque: 88 notches may represent astronomical timekeeping
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📍 Adorant from the Geißenklösterle cave🌍 Show on the globe
Key facts
- Small rectangular mammoth ivory plaque measuring 38mm x 14mm x 4.5mm
- Has 39 notches on edges in groups of 6, 13, 7, and 13
- Has 49 notches on reverse side in four vertical lines
- Total of 88 notches equals three lunar cycles (88.5 days)
- Possibly represents Orion constellation on the carved side
- Found at Adorant from the Geißenklösterle cave in Swabian Jura, Germany
- Dated to between 32,000 and 35,000 years ago
Sources
Adorant from the Geißenklösterle cave - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
The Adorant from the Geißenklösterle cave is a 35,000–32,000 year-old carved section of mammoth ivory, with a depiction of a human figure.
The Decorated Plate of the Geißenklösterle, Germanyweb.astronomicalheritage.net
The edges contain a total of 39 notches in groups of 6, 13, 7 and 13. A further 49 notches on side B are arranged in four vertical lines of 13, 10, 12 and 13 ...
[PDF] Case Study 1.2: The Decorated Plate of the Geißenklösterle, Germanyweb.astronomicalheritage.org
The edges contain a total of 39 notches in groups of 6, 13, 7 and 13. A further 49 notches on side B are arranged in four vertical lines of 13, 10, 12 and ...
These mysterious Stone Age symbols from 40000 years ago could ...ca.news.yahoo.com
Strange symbols carved onto a Stone Age mammoth ivory plate found at a cave in southwest Germany could be the earliest known predecessor to ...
40000-year-old European engravings reveal structured sign ...archaeologymag.com
The Adorant figurine from Geißenklösterle Cave, dating to approximately 38,000 years ago, is a small ivory plaque bearing an anthropomorphic figure on one side ...
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