DESCRIPTIONS OF THE PLATES BONE IMPLEMENTS, ETC. 31 



seal-ring and a walking-stick, upon the top of which is carved an apple, a rose, a 

 lily, an eagle, or some figure or other ; for to have a staff without a device on it 

 is unlawful." Strabo (Book XVI.), treating of the manners of the Assyrians, 

 repeats almost literally what Herodotus stated. "Each," he says, "carries a 

 ring on the finger, and a staff, not simply rough, but ornamentally carved, being 

 surmounted with an apple, a rose, a lily, or some such thing." 



It appears also that the same custom existed among the Hebrews in very 

 ancient times ; for we see in ' Genesis,' ch. xxxviii. v. 18, that Tamar demands 

 of Judah, in pledge for his promise, his signet, his bracelet, and the staff that 

 was in his hand. This staff, walking-stick, or wand, may be supposed to 

 have borne some particular marks, since Judah recognized it afterwards (loc. 

 cit. v. 26). 



We may add that, among the Athenians, the members of the Areopagus (the 

 institution founded by Cecrops) sat on a stone seat, and held in the hand, as a 

 mark of office, a sceptre-like staff (Suidas, vol. i. p. 411). 



With reference, then, to. this explanation of the possible use of our ornamented 

 stems of Reindeer Horn, that they may have been used either as sceptres of 

 command, or as symbols of rank, we shall have to admit, if this interpretation 

 be applicable, that the tribes of indigenous hunters in Pe"rigord were already 

 numerous, and in a social condition so far systematized that the authority of 

 the chiefs, or the unequal conditions of society were recognized and shown 

 by external signs. 



Putting aside the more fanciful notions that have arisen about these curious 

 relics of the past, we bring forward this suggestion now offered as to the use of 

 the Carved Antlers with the view of exciting our Readers to examine and to 

 criticise. They will perhaps discover better explanations, and thus our end 

 will have been attained. 



[To such carved horns as are here described, are referable some at least of the 

 specimens figured in B. PI. II., particularly figs. 3, 7, and 8.] 



Fig. 1. The stem or beam of a Reindeer's Antler, rather slender, probably from a 

 young individual, or a doe. It was a shed antler ; and these are always harder 

 and more compact than others ; such, indeed, are even at the present time pre- 

 ferred by workmen who use this substance in the arts. The brow-antler and the 

 second branch (bez-antler) have been taken off; and close behind their place of 

 attachment the stem has been perforated with two round holes, of unequal 

 size, and edged with a raised border. On the long part of the stem some 



