254 CAVES IN THE DORDOGNE. 



very primitive period, earlier even than that of the first Swiss 

 Lake-villages, or Danish shell-mounds. No fragments of 

 metal or of pottery have yet been found which can be re- 

 ferred with confidence to the Reindeer period. 



But there is one class of objects in these caves which, taken 

 alone, would have led us to a very different conclusion. No 

 representation, however rude, of any animal or plant has yet 

 been found in any of the Danish shell-mounds, or the Stone- 

 age Lake- villages. Even on objects of the Bronze age, they 

 are so rare, that it is doubtful whether a single well authen- 

 ticated instance could be produced. Yet in these archaic 

 bone-caves, many very fair sketches have been found, 

 scratched on bone or stone with a sharp point, probably of 

 a flint implement. In some cases there is even an attempt 

 at shading. In the Annales des Sciences Naturelles,* M. 

 Lartet had already made known to us some rude draw- 

 ings found in the Cave of Savigne, and in his last memoir 

 he has described and figured some more objects of a similar 

 character. 



In the lower station at Laugerie several of these drawings 

 have been found ; one represents a large herbivorous animal, 

 but unfortunately without the head or forelegs ; a second 

 also is apparently intended for some species of ox ; a third 

 represents a smaller animal, with vertical horns ; another is 

 evidently intended for a horse ; and a fifth is very interest- 

 ing, because, from the shape of the antlers and head, it is 

 evidently intended for a reindeer. Several similar drawings 

 have been obtained by M. de Lastic in a cave at Bruniquel. 



But perhaps the most remarkable specimen of all is a 

 poniard, cut out of a reindeer's horn (fig. 134). The 

 artist has ingeniously adapted the position of the animal to 

 the necessities of the case. The horns are thrown back on 



* Ann. des Sc. Nat. 1861. Vol. XY. 



