PALEOLITHIC ART IN THE AMERICAN MUSEUM 



237 



suggested by an incised line. Its direc- 

 tion, neither forward nor backward, and 

 the general attitude of the figure sug- 

 gest repose. The length from ear to 

 root of tail is twenty-three millimeters. 

 The only uncertain stroke of the graver 

 is to be seen in the region of the throat. 

 The numerous nearly vertical and paral- 

 lel fine lines on the neck and back may 

 not be of human workmanship, as 

 similar lines are to be seen at the extreme 

 left of the bone fragment and apparently 

 not related to any animal figure. The 

 figure of a second horse following at a 

 short distance the first described, has 



been lost with the exception of the two 

 ears. Here again the left ear is turned 

 so as to show the opening. This speci- 

 men represents a late phase of Mag- 

 dalenian art. 



Wherever possible it has been the 

 policy of the French Government to set 

 aside as national monuments all caverns 

 and rock-shelters in which are examples 

 of palaeolithic mural art. These will ever 

 remain galleries of prehistoric art. Only 

 in one or two rare instances have parietal 

 engravings or frescoes been cut from 

 their original places. Such a step should 

 be resorted to only when not to remove 

 the art works would be to 

 invite certain destruction. 

 Where works of this nature 

 are accessible and can be 

 permanently protected, 

 there is as little sense in 

 removing them as there 

 would be in removing the 

 frescoes of Michelangelo 

 from the Sistine Chapel. 

 The museums of this coun- 

 try are not likely ever to 

 possess typical original ex- 

 amples of palaeolithic mural 

 art. The American Muse- 

 um has acted wisely there- 

 fore, in transferring to the 

 walls of its hall of European 

 prehistoric archaeology cop- 

 ies of some notable originals 

 from the French as well as 

 the Spanish caverns. 



Probably crude graving tools; 

 at the left from rock-shelter No. 2 

 des Roches-de-Sergeac; at the 

 right from Abri Blanchard. 

 These gravers are large and heavy 

 enough to have served to cut deep 

 lines in limestone as shown on the 

 preceding page 



