THE HUMAN BACKGROUND 



441 



The latter were used both for cutting bone, horn, and ivory and 

 also for engraving and sculpturing. Indeed the Cro-Magnon artist 

 not only modeled in clay, but also was skillful with colors, first 

 simple, later blended, as is still attested by the drawings and fres- 

 coes on the walls and ceilings of his caverns. However, the art 

 that depicted the Wooly Rhinoceros and the Mammoth was to 

 fade as the diminishing ice sheets forced these animals north to 

 eventual extinction. The cause of this flowering of artistic ability 





mm 



\ 



Fig. 286. — Bison incised on limestone. Rock shelter of Laugerie-Basse 

 (Dordogne), France. Late Paleolithic Period. (From MacCurdy.) 



and its passing remains an enigma. It was not exhibited by the 

 immediate successors of Paleolithic man. (Figs. 285, 286.) 



2. Mesolithic Culture 



The so-called Mesolithic culture succeeded the Paleolithic and 

 represents, as it were, the Dark Ages of the prehistoric era. Char- 

 acteristic of the period are the huge shell heaps — refuse piles 

 that throw considerable light on the food habits and implements 

 of the people. These are found in Europe, Asia, and America. 

 Usually they were situated near water as is evidenced by the great 

 abundance of oyster and mussel shells, and of the bones of the 

 duck, goose, gull, and swan. Mammals are represented by bones 



