144 



DISCOVERY 



of tlie engravings of the Colombiere caves ; on a third 

 stone is the complete engraving of a rhinoceros with a 

 series of arrows hanging from its belly. Prehistoric 

 figures of animals similarly pierced with arrows have 

 been found in other caves in France, notablv at 



Reinach among them — believe that these cave pic- 

 tures were connected with magical practices. But 

 with this theory M. Marcellin Boule, the Director of 

 the Institute of Human Palaeontology, of Paris, cannot 

 quite agree. In his opinion we have here the earliest 



Rhinoceros, uith arrows. 



.Stag, with two arrows. 





stag. 



Figure of horse with flowing mane, engraved on 

 limestone. 



Fig. 2.— tracings of EN'GRAVIXGS found in the COLO.MBIERE caves, AIN, FRANCE. 



Chaff aud (Vienne), at Eyzies (Dordogne), and at Mieux 

 (Ardeche). Finally, there was another incomplete but 

 finely executed engraving of an animal which, after 

 the Abbe Breuil had given his opinion upon it, was 

 identified as a musk-ox, which has rarely been depicted 

 by artists of the Reindeer Age. 



Contemplation of these and similar drawings or 

 sculpture has given rise to much speculation regarding 

 their use and meaning. Dr. Mayet apparently inclines 

 to the belief that these animal pictures may have been 

 used as talismans, capable of assuring the fortunate 

 possessor of a fruitful day's hunting. Many prehis- 

 torians — and that eminent authority M. Salomon 



instances of art for art's sake, though he does not 

 deny that they may have had a slight connection 

 with magic. 



BIBLIOGRAPHY 



\\'. Boyd Dawkins : Cave Hunting, researches on the Evidence 

 of Caves respecting the Early Inhabitants oj Europe. (Mac- 

 ' millan & Co., 1874.) 



Dr. Lucien Mayet and Jean Pissot : Abri-sous-roche pre- 

 historique de la Colombiere, pris Poncin (Ain). (A. Rey, 

 Lyons.) 



Marcellin Boule : Les Hommes Fossiles : Elements de Paleon- 

 tologie Humaine. (Masson et Cie, Paris, 1921.) 



