Mousterian osseous artefacts? The case of Divje babe I, Slovenia

In the Divje babe I cave in western Slovenia, several osseous artefacts were found in the Mousterian levels besides a Neanderthal bone musical instrument; they are interpreted as being projectile points, awls, and polishers. They originate from layers that have been dated by the ESR method between 50 and 110 ka. The majority of osseous artefacts show no characteristic traces of manufacture and use, which is explained by the strong effect of corrosion documented in all the excavated layers of the site. These artefacts are presented here in the context of the site at which several elements of 'modern' behaviour have been discovered and recognised in Mousterian levels.