Definition of Aurignacian in English:
Aurignacian
adjective ˌɔːrɪˈnjeɪʃ(ə)nˌɔːrɪɡˈneɪʃ(ə)nˌôrinˈyā-
Archaeology 1Relating to or denoting the early stages of the Upper Palaeolithic culture in Europe and the Near East. It is dated in most places to about 34,000–29,000 years ago, and is associated with Cro-Magnon Man.
Example sentencesExamples
- Modern humans, Homo sapiens, are known in northern Europe from about 40,000 BC and are associated with new styles of flint and stone tools, known as the Aurignacian.
- With the skeletons were Upper Palaeolithic flint tools of Aurignacian type and signs of decorative art in the form of pierced sea shells.
- The Mladec collection also includes Aurignacian tools and art associated with early modern humans.
- By 25,000 years ago, the Aurignacian culture had virtually disappeared, confined to a few small pockets scattered across southern Europe.
- This is the oldest assemblage of modern humans in Europe which retains many portions of the skeleton plus archaeological objects from the Aurignacian period.
- 1.1as noun the Aurignacian The Aurignacian culture or period.
Origin
Early 20th century: from French Aurignacien, from Aurignac in SW France, where objects from this culture were found.