Rock Art Research

This article presents an analytical description of a modified cave bear cranium in a private collection, reportedly from a cave in the Bihor region of western Romania. The specimen, dated to 34,472–35,277 cal BP (Early Upper Palaeolithic), exhibits extensive, bilateral, near-symmetrical perforations through the frontal vault. A systematic taphonomic assessment evaluates and excludes natural formation processes—including carnivore activity, mechanical damage, and chemical erosion—based on controlled fracture margins, the preservation of fragile internal sinus architecture, and fracture morphologies consistent with modification of fresh, collagen-rich bone. The observed patterning is most parsimoniously consistent with deliberate human intervention. The configuration of the frontal perforations possesses ‘exogrammatic’ properties, reliably eliciting a face-like perception (pareidolia), suggesting the modification may have been intended for visual transformation or display. The findings place the cranium within a broader European context of structured, non-utilitarian handling, curation, and deposition of cave bear remains documented at several Palaeolithic sites, supporting its interpretation as an intentionally altered object.