A Birch Bark Tar Figurine from the Pulli Settlement Site in Estonia

Authors

  • Irina Khrustaleva
  • Andres Uueni
  • Mait Metspalu
  • Aivar Kriiska

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.12697/BJAH.2025.28.02

Keywords:

Mesolithic, birch bark tar, figurine, Stone Age Art, Pulli settlement site, Baltic States

Abstract

The oldest art objects in the Eastern Baltic region date back to the
Mesolithic period, while portable figurines are only known from the
second half of the 7th millennium BC. These figurines, made of bone or
antler, are rare. Our article focuses on a unique zoomorphic birch bark
tar figurine discovered at the Pulli settlement site (8950–8300 BC). A
comprehensive analysis was conducted, complementing previously
published chemical analyses. The methods included microscopic
examination of surface treatment traces, direct radiocarbon dating,
3D scanning, photogrammetry, and computed tomography. The
results indicate that the figurine’s shape was deliberately formed
through intentional scraping or planing, particularly in the neck and
head areas. Preservatives used on the figurine penetrated through
deep cracks, influencing the outcomes of chemical and radiocarbon
analyses. This artefact, probably representing a seal, has no known
analogues among the hunter-fisher-gatherer art of the Mesolithic
period (9000–6000/2800 BC) in the European forest zone. It is probably
the oldest portable figurine from the Eastern Baltic region.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

Irina Khrustaleva

Irina Khrustaleva (b. 1986), PhD in Archaeology, is a specialist at the
Institute of Genomics at the University of Tartu. Her main research
interests are related to the Stone Age of Eastern and Northern Europe
(architecture, systems of organisation of prehistoric settlements, social
and economic processes, flint and other stone raw materials, aDNA
of Prehistoric populations, etс.). She has published sixty scientific
and popular scientific articles and conference abstracts.

Andres Uueni

Andres Uueni (b. 1974) is a co-founder of Archaeovision, a company
dedicated to cultural heritage and technology, and a founder of
the MUKOLA lab at the Estonian Academy of Arts (EAA), which
supports cultural heritage (CH) conservation studies. He is currently
pursuing a PhD at EAA, focusing on CH 3D documentation and
multi-spectral imaging. Andres has extensive experience in memory
institutions, specialising in designing and developing ICT and
digitisation systems, and has led numerous projects on digitisation
and documentation of CH, focusing on high-resolution scientific
and technical imaging technologies. He has published more than
thirty scientific and popular scientific articles and given many
presentations.

Mait Metspalu

Mait Metspalu (b. 1975) is Professor of evolutionary genomics and
the director of the Institute of Genomics at the University of Tartu,
which houses the population based Estonian Biobank. His research
concentrates on using and developing population genetics approaches
including ancient DNA to understand the genetic diversity and
adaptations of humans through time. He is also involved in
facilitating the transfer of knowledge of genetic risks for disease
into the medical system in Estonia. He has published more than
one hundred and thirty scientific and popular scientific articles and
conference abstracts.

Aivar Kriiska

Aivar Kriiska (b. 1965) is Professor of Laboratory Archaeology and
the head of the Department of Archaeology at the University of Tartu.
His primary research interests are related to the Stone and Bronze
Ages in Eastern and Northern Europe (early habitation of the forest
zone in Europe, settlement and economic processes in Baltic coastal
areas and islands, aDNA of Prehistoric populations, etc.), although he
has also worked in other fields of archaeology, including Medieval
and Modern Age town archaeology and experimental archaeology.
He has published nearly five hundred scientific and popular scientific
articles, books and conference abstracts.

Published

2025-05-21

Issue

Vol. 28 (2025): Baltic Journal of Art History 28 2024/2025

Section

Articles

Most read articles by the same author(s)