Folia archeologica 36.
10 VIOLA T. DOBOSI HERMAN OTTÓ CAVE Two perforated red deer canines (Fig. 4, 7 — 8.) Inv. № Pb 61/5.1—2. In 1916 O. Kadic published the results of his excavations made in this cave, situated near the community of Hámor. In the lowermost, approx. 80 cms thick layer of the fill of the cave he found 700 paleolithic artifacts. During the faunal investigations this yellow cave clay layer with limestone rubble appeared to be contemporaneous with the Early Solutréen of Szeleta cave. 5 To determine the cultural relations of this rich archeological assemblage is one of the responsibilities of Hungarian research. The assemblage, at present, is treated as a homogeneous material but certainly belongs to different Paleolithic cultures. 6 Kadic wrote the following on the two canines: 7 "The finds which especially engage our attention are two red deer canines with their roots perforated. They decorated the primitive man in all probability as jewels — some sort of earpendants." Red deer canine or "grandli" is a popular trophy and jewelry even today. The two pendants came to the museum from the Hungarian Geological Institut in 1961. The technique of perforation can be studied fairly well on these highly fossilized, well-preserved teeth. The conical hole was started from both sides of the tooth. Its diameter is the smallest in the middle where the root was finally broken through. The whole process was made probably by a narrow dihedral burin. ISTALLÓSKŐ CAVE My opinion expressed above, on the almost unnoticed results of Hungarian research, can be illustrated very well by the reaction to the finds from this cave. J. Hahn's book written on European Aurignacian cultures was published in 1977. 8 The author visited the most important museums and localities, he worked in the collection of the Hungarian National Museum as well and made a careful survey of material. In spite of his thorough studies he mentions only one of the amulets and I have not found anything in his book on the flute or perforated knuckles bones. I J Besides, his discussion on habitation phenomena does not even include a reference to one of the special features of our exhibition, the hearth from Istállóskő cave. 1 0 These deficiencies do not concern to a greater degree the effective value of the site, however, they may contribute to the tendency to underrate the significance of our finds. 5 Kadic, O., Barlangkutatás 4 (1916) 6—17. Fig. 9. 6 Vértes, L., Az őskőkor és az átmeneti kőkor emlékei Magyarországon. (Budapest 1965) 177—178. 7 Kadic, O., op. cit. 16. 8 Hahn, ]., Aurignacien, das ältere Jungpaläolithikum in Mittel- und Osteuropa. (Köln 1977) 9 Ibid. Taf. 145, 7. 1 0 Ibid. Taf. 134, 19.
