Part 11 (2/2)
[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 65.--Hilt of a Dagger, carved in the shape of a Reindeer.]
This is, at all events, nothing but a rough sketch. The same remark, however, does not apply to two ivory daggers found at Bruniquel by M.
Peccadeau de l'Isle. These objects are very artistically executed, and are the most finished specimens that have been found up to the present time. Both of them represent a reindeer with the head thrown back as in the preceding plate; but whilst in one dagger the blade springs from the hinder part of the body, in the same way as in the rough-hewn horn, in the other it proceeds from the front of the body, between the head and the forelegs. The hind legs are stretched out and meet again at the feet, thus forming a hole between them, which was probably used as a ring on which to suspend the dagger.
We must not omit to mention a slab of slate, on which is drawn in outline a reindeer fight. It was found at Laugerie-Ba.s.se by M. de Vibraye. The artist has endeavoured to portray one of those furious contests in which the male reindeer engages during the rutting season, in order to obtain possession of the females; he has executed his design in a spirited manner, marked by a certain _navete_.
There are a good many other fragments on which reindeer are either drawn or carved; we shall not dwell upon them, but add a few remarks as to several specimens on which are representations of the stag, the horse, the bison, the ibex, &c.
A representation of a stag (fig. 66) is drawn on a fragment of stag's horn found in the cave of La Madelaine by MM. Lartet and Christy. The shape of the antlers, which are very different to those of the reindeer, leave no doubt as to the ident.i.ty of the animal.
[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 66.--Representation of a Stag, drawn on a Stag's Horn.]
The ox and the bison are represented in various fas.h.i.+ons. We will mention here a carved head which was found in the cave of Laugerie-Ba.s.se by M. de Vibraye. It forms the base of a staff of authority.
[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 67.--Representation of some large herbivorous Animal on a Fragment of Reindeer's Horn.]
We must, doubtless, cla.s.s under the same category a fragment of reindeer's horn, found at Laugerie-Ba.s.se, on which the hind-quarters of some large herbivorous animal are sketched out with a bold and practised touch (fig. 67). Various indications have led M. Lartet to think that the artist has not endeavoured to represent a horse, as was at first imagined, but a bison of rather a slender shape. Unfortunately the fragment is broken at the exact spot where the bushy mane should begin, which characterises the species of the bison sub-genus.
[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 68.--Arts of Drawing and Sculpture during the Reindeer Epoch.]
In the same locality another fragment of reindeer's horn was found, on which some horned animal is depicted (fig. 69), which appears to be an ibex, if we may judge by the lines under the chin which seem to indicate a beard.
[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 69.--Representation of an Animal, sketched on a Fragment of Reindeer's Horn.]
In the cave of Les Eyzies, in the department of Dordogne, MM. Lartet and Christy came upon two slabs of quartziferous schist, on both of which are scratched animal forms which are deficient in any special characteristics. In one (fig. 70), some have fancied they could recognise the elk; but, as the front part only of the other has been preserved, it is almost impossible to determine what mammiferous animal it is intended to represent. An indistinct trace of horns seems to indicate a herbivorous animal.
[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 70.--Fragment of a Slab of Schist, bearing the representation of some Animal, and found in the Cave of Les Eyzies.]
On each side of a staff of authority made of reindeer's horn, found by MM. Lartet and Christy in the cave of the Madelaine, may be noticed three horses in demi-relief, which are very easily recognisable.
On a carved bone, found at Bruniquel by M. de Lastic, the head of a reindeer and that of a horse are drawn in outline side by side; the characteristics of both animals are well maintained.
Lastly, we may name a round shaft formed of reindeer's horn (fig. 71), found at Laugerie-Ba.s.se by MM. Lartet and Christy, on which is carved an animal's head, with ears of a considerable length laid back upon the head. It is not easy to determine for what purpose this shaft was intended; one end being pointed and provided with a lateral hook. It was perhaps used as a harpoon.
[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 71.--A kind of Harpoon of Reindeer's Horn, carved in the shape of an Animal's Head.]
Representations of birds are more uncommon than those of mammals.
There are, on the other hand, a good many rough delineations of fish, princ.i.p.ally on the so-called wands of authority, on which numbers may often be noticed following one another in a series. We have one delineation of a fish, skilfully drawn on a fragment of the lower jaw-bone of a reindeer, which was found at Laugerie-Ba.s.se.
Also in the cave of La Vache (Ariege), M. Garrigou found a fragment of bone, on which there is a clever design of a fish.
Very few representations of reptiles have come to light, and those found are in general badly executed. We must, however, make an exception in favour of the figure of a tadpole, scratched out on an arrow-head, found in the cave of the Madelaine.
Designs representing flowers are very rare; in the _Galerie du Travail_, at the Exposition, only three specimens are exhibited; they came from La Madelaine and Laugerie-Ba.s.se, and were all three graven on spear-heads.
But did the men of the reindeer epoch make no attempts to portray their own personal appearance? Have not the excavations dug in the settlements of primitive man, found in Perigord, ever brought to light any imitation of the human form? Nothing could exceed the interest of such a discovery. Research has not been entirely fruitless in this respect, and it is hoped that the first attempt in the art of statuary of this primitive people may yet be discovered. In the cave of Laugerie-Ba.s.se, M. de Vibraye found a little ivory statuette, which he takes to be a kind of idol of an indecent character. The head and legs, as well as the arms, are broken off.
Another human figure (fig. 72), which, like the preceding one, is long and lean, is graven on a staff of authority, a fragment of which was found in the cave of La Madelaine by MM. Lartet and Christy. The man is represented standing between two horses' heads, and by the side of a long serpent or fish, having the appearance of an eel. On the reverse side of the same baton, which is not given in the figure, the heads of two bisons are represented.
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