PALEOLITHIC RACES 



19 



fingers close over the handle of the throwing-stick this is 

 swept forwards with great force and rapidity, following and 

 accelerating the spear in its flight (fig. 2). Several Magdalenian 

 spear-throwers have been discovered, chiefly in the caves of 

 Dordogne. They are carved in one piece out of bone or ivory, 

 and adorned with engravings or finely sculptured after some 

 animal form. One of the finest specimens is that represented 

 in fig. 3 — a spirited study of the forepart of an antelope in its 

 skilful rendering, its vigour, and its truth. This is a master- 



ly 



Fig. 2. — The upper figure illustrates the use of the spear-thrower by the Eskimo, 



the lower one by the Australian. 



piece of art : to put it to common use would to our eyes seem 

 nothing less than a desecration. 



There are several objects among the Magdalenian bone im- 

 plements to which it is difficult to assign a use. One of the 

 most interesting of these is the baton de commandement, as it 

 is termed by De Mortillet. In its simplest form this is a rod of 

 reindeer's horn, perforated with one or more cylindrical holes ; 

 very commonly it consists of a part of the stem of an antler 

 bearing one of the tines. Sometimes it is carved into a simple 

 symmetrical form devoid of ornament, at others it assumes a 

 more elaborate character, and is adorned with incised designs. 

 In several instances the extremity just beyond the perforation 



