Bird Bone Case
Container
Le Placard type, Charente
Magdalenian
17 000 years
It would be detrimental for our understanding of prehistoric cultures to consider birds only from the perspective of food.
V. Laroulandie, Exploitation des ressources aviaires durant le Paléolithique en France. Actes des XXIVe rencontres internationales d'archéologie et d'histoire, Antibes, 2003
Commentary :
Bone objects fulfilled new needs that appear during the Magdalenian, some 18 000 years ago.
A cylindrical case made from the bone of a bird of prey is exceptional, in that it projects the symbolic power of the animal, from which it was made.
This delicate container succinctly expresses the attention paid to the conservation of indispensable objects, such as fragile eyed-needles.
This sophisticated accessory produced and used by Magdalenian hunters, finds its equivalent in the most precious cases, of the contemporary world.