A mammoth tusk with the oldest ornament in Belarus was showcased in Gomel
An exhibition dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the discovery of the Berdyzh Upper Paleolithic human site opened in the Gomel Palace and Park Ensemble, writes Times.by.
The Berdyzh site was discovered in 1926 by archaeologist Konstantin Polikarpovich. Its age is estimated at approximately 23.5 thousand years, making it one of the oldest archaeological monuments in Belarus.
The central exhibit of the exhibition is a unique plate made from a mammoth tusk with engraved ornament. It was found back in 1970 during research of the Berdyzh archaeological complex.
For a long time, the find was stored in the archaeological office of Gomel State University, and later it was transferred to the museum. The artifact was introduced into scientific circulation only this year. Previously, it was mistakenly considered a copy of an older find. After cleaning and restoration, it turned out to be a genuine plate from a mammoth tusk.
When assembled, it is 18.5 centimeters long and 14.8 centimeters wide. On its surface, ancient humans applied an abstract geometric ornament of notches, oblique crosses, and zigzags.
Scientists note that the character of these images corresponds to the ornamental traditions of the Upper Paleolithic in the central part of the East European Plain.
Thus, in Gomel, one can now see one of the most unique examples of Paleolithic art found on the territory of Belarus.
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