Carved finds from ？andalja II

Sa？etak Geometric motifs were a frequent occurrence in the Upper Paleolithic period. They are widespread geographically, and in Croatia we encounter such motifs at two sites: Vlakno on Dugi Otok and ？andalja II in Istria. This paper offers analysis of the material from the Upper Paleolithic layers at ？andalja II where eight carved artefacts have been found. Based on the way they were made, the items from ？andalja II fall into either simpler or more complex categories. There are various interpretations for the carved finds, and this paper poses the possibility that the items have a symbolic meaning. Recently, geometric motifs have been garnering a lot of attention from archaeologists, resulting in multiple theories about the possible function of the motifs. One of the first explanations was offered by Alexander Marshack (1972) who considered the carvings on the respective finds to provide evidence that Upper Paleolithic communities tracked lunar changes and that the carved notches indicate notational systems. J. D. Lewis-Williams and T. Dowson (1988) offered their explanation in terms of entoptic phenomenon, and their theory explains the extensive prevalence of geometric motifs. In more recent investigations, G. von Petzinger (2016) suggested that the motifs represent the first steps of an early graphic communication