Mezine

Mezine or Mezyn (Ukrainian: Мезин) is an archaeological site in Ukraine, located alongside the Desna River in Novhorod-Siverskyi Raion of Chernihiv Oblast, near the village of Mezine. It has the country's greatest number of finds originating from the Paleolithic period. The site is known for an archaeological find of a set of engraved bracelets, with marks possibly representing calendar lunar-cycles. Also found near Mezine was the earliest known example of a meander pattern as described by Marija Gimbutas, as part of a decorative object dated to 10,000 BCE. It was described (see references for illustrations) as an object carved from ivory mammoth tusks to resemble a bird. The bird is understood as an inherently shamanistic animal, often being a symbol of the soul or of the spirit experienced in flight (from death).