Abstract:

A decorated basalt shaft straightener discovered at the Natufian
open-air site of Nahal Ein Gev II (Israel) seemingly provides an
insight into the workings of the human mind ca. 12,000 years ago.
It is oval and features a central deep groove flanked on both sides by
a series of perpendicular striations—24 on the right and 26 on the
left—grouped into three registers. The number of lines in the third
register on either side constitutes the total number of lines incised in
the other two registers. Apparently, the notation-maker was intent on
indicating the mathematically correct number of lines on either side of
the groove at the expense of a visual bilateral symmetry sensu stricto.
As such, this appears to be one of the earliest recorded instances in
human prehistory to directly manifest this uniquely human cognitive
characteristic. It also serves as a “wake-up call” to revisit other
“decorated” Natufian and Epipaleolithic items.