archaeo-sororis

archaeo: primitive, first, beginning
sororis: sisterhood

This website is dedicated to Women's Work. 

 It is inspired by Elizabeth Wayland Barber's book of that name,

so this site is also dedicated to her. 

Upper Paleolithic and Late Stone Age Periods

Many scholars refer to the Upper Paleolithic Period (roughly 40-10 kya) in Eurasia as a time of cultural flourescence. Art, including rock art, personal adornment, and sculptures, just to name a few, became ubiquitous, together with advanced toolkits using a new medium: worked bone. All of these changes indicate a dramatic, and relatively sudden, change in cognitive capacities of area inhabitants. Most believe the changes are a result of the influx of homo sapiens across that area. Indeed, that appears to be the case, based on similar, older assemblages clearly attributable to homo sapiens in Africa dating to the Late Stone Age (beginning roughly around 50 kya, although some evidence exists for an earlier transition in some areas). Pending research into the technologically advanced Denisovans, a newly discovered species of homo in the Altai Mountains dating to 70 kya, will provide additional light on this subject.

Worked Bone Tools

One thing seems to be agreed upon: worked bone tools are roughly diagnostic of Upper Paleolithic and Late Stone Age toolkits, and indicate an advanced consciousness.

Women's Work

Needles are present in the very oldest bone toolkits, and continue to be found throughout the entire period and on through the present day. In general, the oldest needles did not have eyes. They were used to pierce leather hides for stitching. These are sometimes found in Neanderthal assemblages, as well. However, an eyed needle was recently recovered at Denisova Cave, dating to 50 kya. This is an absolutely astonishing discovery. The next oldest eyed needles, that I am aware of, come from Yana RHS, also in the Altai. These needles are all the more fascinating in that they are decorated with incised lines and dots. I will write more about this later.

Lissoirs (bone scrapers) were also found throughout the period. These are specialty tools used to scrape and work hides. These items are found in Neanderthal assemblages, too!

Together, this evidence indicates a very early development of sewing, with its own specialized technology and possible ritual associations. It certainly constitutes a dramatic technological advancement by women, with all the attendant inferences regarding cognition.

Much research is and has been dedicated to certain elements of these bone toolkits, particularly the spear points. Less research has focused on early needles and other sewing accoutrement present in the bone toolkits. This is a topic that is wide open! There is so much cultural material to investigate. It's a very exciting field.

The Database

The database has been created to synthesize existing data on bone toolkits in general, and those in which needles, lissoirs, awls, or other evidence of hide or textile work is present in particular. My first goal is to create a list of sites with Mid to Upper Paleolithic and Mid to Late Stone Age worked bone assemblages. I will collect perfunctory data along the way, including the presence of needles or other such evidence and relevant links to research. Upon completion of this task, I will research each site containing this material more deeply, filling in data as I go. Citations will be METICULOUS. I promise. WITH links to relevant studies and photographs where possible.

Please Help!

I am very open to help, questions, comments, critiques, and suggestions. Please click the link on the right for detailed information and to navigate to the database. Anyone is free to use any data from this site for research purposes. Please credit this site in your work!