MP Gallery - Markings, Signs, Graphemes; s) quneitra54

Example of an aggregation of MP symbols.

• Quneitra, Golan, Israel, ESR 53,900±5,900 - Levantine Mousterian Tabun B tools. Full microscopic analysis by Marshack, A. 1996. A Middle Paleolithic symbolic composition from the Golan Heights: The earliest known depictive image. Current Anthropology 37,2:357-365.

Marshack's drawings shown in next image.

Comment (James Harrod): Flat cortex flint plate incised with 4 nested semicircles and surrounded by overarching straight lines. The latter evoke a trianglular shape. The nested semicircles might suggest both a valley landscape (the site is above a valley) and a vulva birthing source; the two together evokes the 'triangular female' figurines, the life-giver and earth-shaping creatrix, found at other Middle Paleolithic sites, such as Fontmaure, France; Har Karkom, Israel; and Warlingham, Surrey, England. [See the OriginsNet MP gallery for some examples of the 'tri-goddess'.]

Photo © Alexander Marshack. Bahn, P. G. and J. Vertut. 1997. Journey through the ice age. Los Angeles: University of California Press. Figure 2.3 "The engraved flint cortex from Quneitra, Israel, 7.2 cm across and dating to c. 54,000 years ago."