Page:Prehistoric Britain.djvu/100

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PREHISTORIC BRITAIN

implements, as disclosed by the beautiful workmanship on the so-called laurel and willow-leaf lance-heads, which show flaking almost as fine and delicate as that on the sacrificial knives of Egypt. The fine chipping on these weapons could not be produced by the ordinary method of hammering, so that the artists of the period had already experience in doing this work by pressure. An equally characteristic object is the willow-leaf point (pointe à cran), which has one side of the stem, or hilt, cut away, leaving a tang-like appendage.

Another distinguishing feature of this station was the predilection of its inhabitants for horse-flesh, as shown by the extraordinary quantity of the bones of this animal found among the débris. Although the reindeer was largely represented it was not, in point of numbers, anything like the horse—a peculiarity which was reversed in the succeeding Magdalénien epoch.

Sculpture on stone was practised, as shown by the finding of four quadrupeds carved out of limestone pebbles. The art of engraving on bone was also known but, apparently, little practised. From the lumps of pigment and ochre occasionally met with on the hearths, it is supposed that painting was carried on to some extent. Bone needles with perforated eyes were for the first time found in the upper strata.

6. Magdalénien.—The rock-shelter of La Madeleine, which gives name to the Mag-