382 



REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1896. 



Fig. 25. 

 REINDEER (HIND LEGS) AND BODY OF A WOMAN, ENGRAVED ON 

 A FRAGMENT OF SHOULDER BLADE. REVERSE, RCDE SKETCH 

 OF HORSE. 



Found by Landesque at Laugerio Basse, Dordogne. 



Collection of Jniige E. Piette. Cast, Cat. No. 99741, U.S.N. M. =3 natural size. 



ing. This specimen is from the cavern of Thayingen, near Lake Con- 

 stance, Switzerlaud. It is engraved npon a piece of reindeer antler 

 and possibly was the fragment of a hdto7i <Je eommandement. The piece 

 here represented is, taken in its entirety, probably the best art picture 



yet found belonging to the 

 Paleolithic period. The 

 one view shown represents 

 both sides of the antler, 

 as though it had been un- 

 rolled. Spread out thus, 

 it has the appearance of a 

 veritable landscape with 

 water in the foreground, 

 herbage around it, and the 

 grass, etc., in the back- 

 ground where the reindeer 

 is feeding. This specimen 

 is engraved two- thirds nat- 

 ural size. The size and 

 outline of the body with 

 development of the antlers 

 denote a full grown male. The peculiar the pinched form of the belly, 

 apparently exaggerated by the artist, is common after the rutting sea- 

 son. The head, horns, and body lines are true and correct. The eye 

 is of the proper form and is rightly placed. The attitude of the animal 

 indicates him to be walking slowly, browsing or grazing as he goes. 

 Fig. 25 is an illustration (of which others will be shown) of the use 

 of a piece of material to repeat different objects or views, sometimes 

 each from a different 

 point of view, and one 

 overlaying the other. 

 This is a fragment of 

 shoulder blade. It repre- 

 sents a woman's form 

 which has been engraved, 

 and over it afterwards a 

 reindeer of which the two 

 hind legs only remain. 

 This specimen was found 

 at Laugerie Basse and be- 

 longs to the collection of 

 Judge Piette. The woman 

 has a collar about her neck and bracelets upon her arms. There are 

 marks said to represent hair, but which may be only the eflbrt of the art- 

 ist to represent the rounded appearance of the human form instead of 

 presenting it in profile. The foiegoing specimens are particularly fine 

 art work. They illustrate the proposition emphasized and repeated 



Fig. 26. 



REINDEER WITH .TAVELIN IN HIS FLANK, ENGRAVFD ON TIIK RIB 

 BONE OF OX. 



Found by E. Douliot, Grotto of Carnac, Dordoj;ne. 



Musee St. Germain. N.itiiral size. 



