The present study provides an archaeological interpretation of shell assemblages from Neolithic and Early Bronze Age burials found in Poland based on the identification of fossil shell type and provenience. The taxonomic identification of shells directly points to their source of procurement, which facilitates the understanding of why only some societies used shell ornaments and why only certain species were selected for use in this way. Focusing on artefacts, we present the results of standard methods of analysis used in archaeomalacological research. Strontium isotope analysis ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr was furthermore applied in the cases for which the exact recognition of species was impossible based on standard methods. The research shows that for the periods discussed, one can observe both the phenomena of the transfer of prestigious objects (Quaternary shells obtained from the Mediterranean) and the transmission of ideas with subsequent local adaptation (the use of local Miocene fossil shells similarly to Quaternary Mediterranean shells). The shells constitute a part of the Neolithic tradition of body ornamentation seen during this period across Europe. The study indicates that fossil shells were only used by some of the communities inhabiting the area of southern Poland in the Neolithic and Early Bronze Age and suggests chronological and regional differentiation.

中文翻译：

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波兰新石器时代晚期和青铜时代早期埋葬的中新世贝壳

本研究基于对化石贝壳类型和物源的鉴定，对波兰发现的新石器时代和青铜时代早期的墓葬的贝壳组合进行了考古学解释。贝壳的分类学鉴定直接指向其采购来源，这有助于理解为什么只有一些社会使用贝壳装饰，以及为什么只选择某些物种以这种方式使用。重点关注文物，我们介绍了考古考古学研究中使用的标准分析方法的结果。锶同位素分析⁸⁷ Sr / ⁸⁶此外，在基于标准方法无法准确识别物种的情况下，还会应用Sr。研究表明，在所讨论的时期内，既可以观察到有名物体的转移现象（从地中海获得的第四纪壳层），又可以在随后进行局部适应的情况下传播思想的传播（类似于第四纪地中海时代，使用了中新世化石壳层贝壳）。这些贝壳构成了这一时期在整个欧洲看到的新石器时代人体装饰传统的一部分。研究表明，化石壳仅在新石器时代和青铜时代早期居住在波兰南部地区的一些社区使用，并暗示了年代和区域上的差异。