The Upper Palaeolithic material cultures of central and western Europe are well known for their symbolic manifestations that include magnificent rock art, impressive anthropomorphic figurines and mobile art objects on ivory and other raw material like bone, antler, and stone slabs, and decorated ornaments. The Upper Paleolithic of the Levant, on the other hand, is significantly less rich, and exhibits a limited repertoire of symbolic expressions that correspond only to the Levantine Aurignacian. Among the common manifestations are of portable incised and notched bones and stone objects.

Ongoing excavations at Manot Cave, Israel, have exposed well preserved Levantine Aurignacian contexts that are securely dated to 38-34 Ka. The Aurignacian at Manot is characterized by typical flint assemblages, bone and antler objects, perforated shells, as well as portable art objects.

One of the most exceptional finds discovered at Manot is a non-portable engraved stone that was found at the back part of the cave next to cave wall. The engraved stone bear a three-dimensional geometric pattern that faced the cave center.

In this talk we will present results of the pattern that imply these depressions were made by hominids, most likely Aurignacian. The contextual setting of the stone suggests it may have been used for ritual purposes.