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Name : Bison Licking Insect Bite
What it is : A figurine of a bison licking its wing
The carving depicts a bison licking its flank and was made out of a piece of deer antler.
Where it is from : Abri de la Madeleine ( Magdalene Shelter ) in St Remèze , France
When it was made : Approximately 14,000 years ago
Related : Arthur ’s Stone : A 5,700 - year - old monument in England linked to the caption of King Arthur
What it state us about the past :
This prehistoric cutting , distinguish inside a cave in France , depicts a steppe Bison bonasus ( Bison priscus ) , a now - extinct coinage of bison . It was crafted from a piece of Rangifer tarandus antler that was previously used as a spear throwster for hunting , according to theBradshaw Foundation .
Despite its small sizing — roughly 4 inch ( 10.5 centimeter ) wide — the figurine contains a wealth of punctilious details , include exquisitely carved individual hairs across the animal ’s soundbox and a pair of horn protrude from its head , giving the piece a natural quality .
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Archaeologists attribute the artifact to the Magdalenian , a Paleolithic culture that existed in Europe between 23,000 and 14,000 yr ago , during thelast ice years . These people were hump for their elaborate art , let in oxford grey cave paintings and engravings using Harlan Stone and bone tools , according to theNatural History Museumin London .
Not only were they expert craftsman , but the hoi polloi behind the Magdalenian culture were also adept self-aggrandizing - biz hunters who focused on hunting horses and bison . Researchers think that because food for thought was plentiful , members of the civilization had enough leisure fourth dimension to focus on other endeavors , include art .
The artefact is currently house at the National Museum of Prehistory in Les Eyzies , France .
