Castelperronian and Aurignacian ornaments: a comparative study of three unexamined series of perforated teeth

Personal ornaments such as perforated teeth have been retrieved from many Aurignacian sites, but which more rarely from Castelperronian layers. It has been doubted whether the perforated teeth uncovered from the latter sites might be ascribed to this culture. Two series of bored Aurignacian teeth and one of Castelperronian teeth have been studied to see if there were similarities and differences in the boring techniques. The methods used in both Aurignacian series seem to exhibit similarities: the root of the tooth is first thinned by scraping, then ii is scratched through, which often results in a small-size perforation, Such traces are not systematically exhibited in the Castelperronian series where the work marks mostly affect the vicinity of the perforation which seems to be obtained through repeated exertion of pressure in one particular spot. The perforation is slightly larger than in the other two series but the work is more refined.