In the Voronezh region, Russia, a group of archaeologists discovered a blank slate pendant with an unfinished hole, as well as two isolated adult teeth. The finds were made as part of the Kostenkovo archaeological expedition of the Institute of History of Material Culture of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

ЭNot only the tooth finds themselves, but also the context of their discovery are valuable. Thus, in a small cluster, in addition to human teeth, several fossils (coral calyxes, sea lilies), two shale pebbles and a cave lion incisor lay tightly together. Probably, all these items were in something similar to a “pouch”, the contents of which may have been used for ritual (magical) purposes,’ said senior researcher Aleksander Bessudnov.

Anthropological remains are very rare for Paleolithic settlements 40-42 thousand years old in Eurasia. 

Most often they are represented by isolated bones and teeth, and burials of this time are not known to date.

Other finds include an unusually shaped spatula made from the blade of a young mammoth. The excellent preservation of the surface allows to study in detail the technology of manufacture and peculiarities of use of this product. 

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