국립중앙박물관 NATIONAL MUSEUM OF KOREA

Anklet

This Neolithic ornament was found around the right ankle of a skeleton in Yeondaedo Island Tomb 7 in Tongyeong. The pendants are believed to be the teeth of dolphins, otters, and raccoons, strung together through holes that had been bored in their base. Neolithic ornaments, including anklets, were likely worn in connection with religious beliefs or rituals, rather than as decorative accessories. Ornaments made from stone, which is renowned for its permanence, may have been used to pray for everlasting life, while animal bones or teeth may have expressed reverence for the spirits of those animals.