366 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1949 
warm summers, severe winters probably with much snow, and short 
spring and fall seasons; in other words, an environment very similar 
to that which exists today in the northern portion of Europe. 
Neither the relatively small series of flint implements recovered 
at La Colombiére, nor the total number and thickness of the fire 
hearths, in comparison with other Upper Paleolithic sites in western 
Europe, suggests that this rock-shelter was ever permanently occupied. 
Furthermore, during the wet summer of 1948 it was found that the 
roof “Jeaked’’ very badly. This unpleasant feature, coupled with the 
fact that during Late Pleistocene times weathered-off fragments of 
limestone must have been constantly falling from the top and sides 
of the shelter, would not have been an inducement to settlers to 
occupy the place permanently. On this basis, it is concluded that 
the site was used only as a temporary camping place during the hunt- 
ing season. 
Finally, why are there so many animals superimposed on the two 
surfaces of a single pebble that measures only 4% inches long, 3% 
inches wide, and 1% inches thick (12 x 8.2 x 3.5 cm.)? In providing 
an answer to this question it seems difficult to avoid putting forward 
the suggestion that, in the eyes of the prehistoric occupants of La 
Colombiére, this pebble was probably regarded as a hunting talisman 
rather than an art object. For there are thousands of similar water- 
worn limestone pebbles strewn on the floor of the Ain Valley near La 
Colombiére. Surely, if an Upper Aurignacian artist had simply 
wanted to reproduce in the form of an outline drawing one of the 
animals his group was hunting (i. e., art for art’s sake), it would be 
logical to expect him to select a new pebble with a fresh surface each 
time he desired to depict a new animal. 
Therefore, it is probable that there was some definite reason for 
superimposing so many animals on a single pebble, and on this basis 
it is felt that the only plausible explanation is to regard the object 
as having importance in connection with certain magico-religious rites 
performed in connection with the chase. Thus we can imagine that 
the pebble was initially engraved and used in a hunting ceremony. 
Since that particular hunt was successful, the pebble was reengraved 
and used on subsequent occasions for the same purpose. It possessed 
magical qualities, or “mana.” It is therefore tentatively concluded 
that the primary significance of this very fine object, from the point 
of view of the people who actually lived at La Colombiére during the 
closing phases of the Ice Age, was not the beautiful engravings so 
carefully executed on its surfaces, but the fact that it was the medium 
by which it was possible to commune directly with the spirits of the 
animal world for the purpose of successfully replenishing the all-im- 
portant food supply. 
