Unravelling the Complexity of Magdalenian Engravings on Gönnersdorf Plaquettes: Investigating through Manual and Controlled Robotic Experiments

Summary

This is an abstract from the "SAA 2024: Individual Abstracts" session, at the 89th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

Our AHRC/DFG-funded Household Art project explores the content and wider context of the 15,800-year-old Gönnersdorf/Andernach Upper Palaeolithic engraved plaquettes (portable schist) curated at MONREPOS, Neuwied (Germany). We use state-of-the-art 3D scanning microscopic and use-wear technologies in MONREPOS’S TraCEr laboratory and visual psychological experimentation including virtual reality conducted at Durham University (UK) to identify individual engravers, their personal idiosyncrasies, and the extent to which their engraving was influenced by the natural shape of plaquettes (pareidolia). This adds to our understanding of the art’s positioning and importance in a Magdalenian domestic environment. We discuss current results, including the hand-preference of artists, the sequence of engravings, and the re-use of plaquettes over time.

Cite this Record

Unravelling the Complexity of Magdalenian Engravings on Gönnersdorf Plaquettes: Investigating through Manual and Controlled Robotic Experiments. Jerome Robitaille, Lisa-Elen Meyering, Sabine Gaudzinski-Windheuser, Olaf Jöris, Paul Pettitt. Presented at The 89th Annual Meeting of the Society for American Archaeology. 2024 ( tDAR id: 499468)

Spatial Coverage

min long: -11.074; min lat: 37.44 ; max long: 50.098; max lat: 70.845 ;

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 38736.0