Abstract
We report the discovery and present a detailed analysis of a freshwater bivalve from Shuidonggou Locality 2, layer CL3. This layer is located c. 40 cm below layer CL2, which has yielded numerous ostrich eggshell beads. The shell is identified as the valve of a Corbicula fluminea. Data on the occurrence of this species in the Shuidonggou region during Marine Isotope Stage 3 and taphonomic analysis, conducted in the framework of this study, of a modern biocoenosis and thanatocoenosis suggest that the archeological specimen was collected at one of the numerous fossil or sub-fossil outcrops where valves of this species were available at the time of occupation of level CL3. Experimental grinding and microscopic analysis of modern shells of the same species indicate that the Shuidonggou shell was most probably ground on coarse sandstone to open a hole on its umbo, attach a thread, and use the valve as a personal ornament. Experimental engraving of freshwater shells and microscopic analysis identify an incision crossing the archaeological valve outer surface as possible deliberate engraving. Reappraisal of the site chronology in the light of available radiocarbon evidence suggests an age of at least 34–33 cal kyr BP for layer CL3. Such estimate makes the C. fluminea recovered from CL3 one of the earliest instances of personal ornamentation and the earliest example of a shell bead from China.
Highlights
Personal ornaments are generally considered as one of the most reliable proxies for the emergence of symbolic material culture in our genus (e.g. [1,2,3,4,5,6])
The outcrops from the Tengger Desert, 14C dated to 41–25 cal kyr BP [110,111], are 200 km away from Shuidonggou. This implies that the Corbicula from layer CL3 may have been collected alive or dead in freshwater environments close to Shuidonggou or at more distant outcrops containing fossil specimens
Information on the taphonomy of C. fluminea in different deposition environments suggests that the valve discovered at Shuidonggou Locality 2 was almost certainly collected at one of the numerous fossil or sub-fossil outcrops where well preserved valves of this species were available at the time of occupation of level CL3
Summary
Personal ornaments are generally considered as one of the most reliable proxies for the emergence of symbolic material culture in our genus (e.g. [1,2,3,4,5,6]). [1,2,3,4,5,6]) They represent in all current and historically known human societies a quintessential means of communication to convey coded information on the social and group identity of the wearer [7,8,9,10,11,12,13]. They may signal the emergence of uniquely human cognition and complex language abilities [14,15,16] this view remains controversial [17,18,19,20]. The tempo and mode of the emergence and PLOS ONE | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0155847 May 26, 2016
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