406 



REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1896. 



and firm. These pieces of flint or similar ones are always found as- 

 sociated with the engravings. The surface having been prepared, 

 the objects to be represented are outlined, probably, by marks with the 

 graver, cutting away the substance to a greater or less depth, accord- 

 ing to the sketch desired. The knives, flakes, and gravers may have 



Fig. 67. 



SCULPTURED REINDEER IN IVORY; HANDLE OF A PONIARD WITH DLADE BROKEN AND LOST. THE NOSE 

 IS THROWN UP AND THE HOENS LAID ON THE BACK. 



Cavern of Bniniquel (Tarn-et-Garonue). 



Collec-teil by Peci-eileau de I'lsle and sol.l by )iim to the British Museum. Cast, Cat. No. 8)46, U.S.N. M. Natural size. 



been inserted in handles or operated directly by hand. No evidence 

 has been found of the actual employment of a handle. The scrapers 

 are more likely to have been so used, for the same implement iu.serted 

 in a handle has been employed in modern times by the Eskimo. 



In the sculptures the surface, after having been reduced to proper 



form, seems to have been 

 polished by rubbing, and ac- 

 cordingly there is found just 

 such an implement as would 

 lierform this service, and no 

 other service than this has 

 ever been suggested to ac- 

 count for the existence of 

 the implement. It is a piece 

 of flint, called in French re- 

 louclioir,^ rudely chipped 

 into the general form of a 

 man's foreiinger. The ex- 

 treme point of the finger is 

 ""'"'"■ smooth and polished, evi- 



dently the result of much rubbing, and apparently not done by grinding. 

 Of course this descrii^tion and the assignment of these utensils is 

 more or less theoretical, but it is not open to the objection of many of 

 the theories proj^ounded by wise men of our day, for — 

 (1) The existence of these objects is certain. 



MAMMOTH SCULPTURED ON PALM OF REINDEER HORN. 

 DLE OP PONIARD, WITH BLADE BROKEN. 



Bruniquel (Tarn-et-Garonne). 



Peccadeau de I'lsle. British Museum. Cast, Cat. No. 8174, U.S.N.M. 



1 De Mortillet, Mus6e Prehistorique, plate XLV, figs. 411-417. 



