Human figurines in the Mesolithic-Neolithic transition of the South Caucasus: New evidence from the Damjili cave, Azerbaijan

Abstract

Recent research shows that the Neolithization of the South Caucasus occurred in stages. While domesticated plants and animals were introduced rapidly around 6000 BCE, certain cultural elements typical of the Neolithic might have become common later. This study reports the discovery of a stone human figurine from the Damjili Cave, Azerbaijan, which is the first example from a radiocarbon-dated context of the late Mesolithic in the South Caucasus. Its stylistic features considerably differ from those of Neolithic human figurines in the region, providing a valuable reference point for understanding the cultural processes in symbolic aspects during the Mesolithic-Neolithic interface in the South Caucasus.