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La Madeleine

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Bison licking its shoulder, from La Madeleine

Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
Source: Original on display at Le Musée National de Préhistoire, Les Eyzies-de-Tayac

View down the Vézère valley from the Medieval La Madeleine rock shelter.

Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008

Map of the location of La Madeleine on the Vézère River

Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
Source: Display at La Madeleine

Aerial photograph of the location of La Madeleine on the Vézère River. Note that according to the legend on this photograph, the gisement, or archaeological site, of La Madeleine is not accessible to the public. Thus the rock shelter used in mediaeval times shown above may or may not have been used during the Magdalenian. I would appreciate further information on this point. However it seems certain that the major archaeological site is further downstream from the cave shown above. I understand that the gisement of La Madeleine, an historic monument since October 1956, is now private property.

Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
Source: Display at La Madeleine

Le gisement, or archeological site, of la Madeleine, downstream from the tourist site and the medieval rock shelter of La Madeleine

Photo: http://www.pole-prehistoire.com/page_site.php?site=20

Photo credits:
Christine Dubourg, Service archéologique départemental Dordogne, Christine Dubourg, Service archéologique départemental Dordogne, Service archéologique départemental Dordogne.

Looking upstream along the Vézère River from the Medieval Rock Shelter at the tourist site of La Madeleine.

Photo:Don Hitchcock 2008

At the end of 1863, Edouard Lartet, a palaeontologist, and his friend and benefactor Henry Christy discovered the shelter of La Madeleine by the side of the Vézère River. They were returning from investigating Le Moustier a few kilometres away, and noticed a large shelter on the right bank of the river. At this time there was no bridge, and they stopped a passing boat for assistance in crossing the river. A search was carried out with shovels and spades, and they began to realise the importance of the site. Each level revealed the presence of mankind: burins, flint blades, spear points. Numerous unrecognised objects turned up, made from unknown bones: harpoons, spears, needles, and numerous artefacts made from reindeer antlers. They decided to leave a serious investigation until spring.

The next spring, they continued their research. In May 1864 workers discovered five fragments of an ivory plate, which once reassembled, revealed an exceptional engraving of a mammoth. The accuracy of the engraving confirmed without doubt that the artist had observed the living creature and reproduced it in accurate detail: wooly coat, tusks, and hump were all faithfully recorded. The rear end of the animal was also clearly defined.

In 1868 Gabriel de Martillet established a new timescale for the prehistoric centuries, and La Madelaine became the type site for "Magdalenian" times. The site was also studied by Paul Girod and Elie Massenet, as well as numerous amateur investigators. Denis Peyrony restarted the research in 1911, and refined knowledge of the site. In 1926 the skeleton of a three year old child was discovered, with exquisite shell jewellery, dating from the end of the Magdalenian period. In 1968, following several years without further developments, the research was restarted by Jean-Marc Bouvier.

La sépulture de l'enfant de la Madeleine
Magdalénien final

Découverte par D. Peyrony en 1926, cette sépulture d'un enfant de 2 à 4 ans vient d'être datée par spectrométrie de masse de 10 190 ± 100 B.P. (fin de Magdalénien)

La structure funéraire reste modeste: une simple fosse accueille le corps allongé sur le dos; la tête placée au Sud, est entourée de trois pierres. Cette simplicité contraste avec une parure exceptionelle (présentée ci-contre), probablement ocrée, composée de près de 1500 pièces réparties sur le corps.

Burial of the la Madeleine child
Final Magdalenian

Discovered by D. Peyrony in 1926, this burial of a child 2 to 4 years old has been dated by mass spectrometry at 10 190 ± 100 BP (the end of the Magdalenian)

The funeral was modest: a simple pit houses the body lying on her back, her head placed to the south, and was surrounded by three stones. This simplicity contrasts with an exceptional adornment, probably sprinkled with ochre, comprising nearly 1,500 shells spread over the body. (possibly originally attached to a garment - Don)

Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
Source: Original on display at Le Musée National de Préhistoire, Les Eyzies-de-Tayac
Text: Display at Le Musée National de Préhistoire, Les Eyzies-de-Tayac

La parure de l'enfant de La Madeleine (Tursac, Dordogne) est fortement enracinée dans le monde magdalénien, bien que datée de 10 190 ± 100 B.P.

En 1927, Denis Peyrony la découvrit ainsi: " [Le] squelette était allongé, étendu sur le dos, suivant la direction Nord-Sud, la tête vers ce dernier point [...]. De nombreux petits coquillages perforés (dentales et turritelles) et des dents percées, se trouvaient dans la région des chevilles, des genoux, des poignets, des coudes, du cou et de la tête [...]. Le cadavre de cet enfant enduit de rouge (saupoudré d'ocre, ou plus vraisemblablement peint avec cette matière), avait été déposé là soigneusement, orné d'une riche parure". L'analyse récente des objets renseigne sur la fabrication, l'assemblage et l'utilisation de cette parure. L'usure des coquillages, tronçonnés en tubes de petite taille, indique que les dentales auraient pu être cousus sur l'habit et que l'enfant aurait pu porter le vêtement de son vivant.

Le nombre d'objets impliqués et le temps nécessaire à la réalisation de cette parure évoquent une motivation dépassant l'affection parentale. Serait-ce lié à une hiérarchisation sociétale à base héréditaire ou à un statut social propre à cette classe d'âge dans les sociétés de la fin du Paléolithique Supérieur?

Dentalium sp. (1275)
Cyclopes (5)
Turritelles (19)
Néritenes (24)
Canine de renard
Phalange de lagomorphe
Humérus de lagomorphe
Vertèbre de poisson

The parure (a parure is a set of various items of matching jewellery) of the child from La Madeleine is strongly rooted in the Magdalenian world, although dated 10 190 ± 100 BP, at the very end of the period.

In 1927, Denis Peyrony discovered the burial: "The skeleton was lying, stretched out on its back, in the North-South direction, head to the South.... Many small perforated shells (Dentalia and Turritella) and pierced teeth were in the region of the ankles, knees, wrists, elbows, neck and head. The corpse of the child, which was covered with red ochre (sprinkled, or more likely painted with ochre), was removed carefully, and was decorated with a rich parure. The child wore seashells, cut into small tubes, so that the Dentalia shells could be sewn onto the garment, and the child could wear the vestments for the rest of time.

The number of objects involved and the time required to achieve this dress evoke motivation beyond parental affection. Could this be related to a social hierarchy based hereditary or social status specific to this age group in the societies of the late Upper Palaeolithic?

Dentalium sp. (1275)
Cyclope sp. (5)
Turritella (19)
Néritenes (Neritidae?) (24)
Fox canine tooth
Lagomorpha phalange (Lagomorpha are animals from the hare/rabbit family)
Lagomorpha humerus (Lagomorpha are animals from the hare/rabbit family)
Fish vertebra

Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
Source: Originals on display at Le Musée National de Préhistoire, Les Eyzies-de-Tayac

Cyclope neritea, one of the cyclope shells, from Spain, San Carlos de la Rapita. On sand, 20 cm deep. June 2001.

This is probably not the same species as was used for the La Madeleine parure, but gives some idea of the genus.

Photo: http://www.conchology.be/en/availableshells/shellsforsaledetails.php?uniquenumber=305516#f

Theodoxus fluviatilis, common name the river nerite, is a small species of freshwater and brackish water snail with a gill and an operculum. It is an aquatic gastropod mollusk in the family Neritidae, the nerites. (This I think is similar to the shells labelled Néritenes in the display of the parure of the Magdalenian child. - Don)

Photo: Wikipedia

There are many species of Turritella, and those in the parure were not identified to species, but one of the most common in Europe is Turritella communis, a species of medium-sized sea snails with an operculum, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Turritellidae.

The photo shows three beachworn shells of Turritella communis from North Wales

Photo: Wikipedia

Parures Funéraires

Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
Source: Originals on display at Le Musée National de Préhistoire, Les Eyzies-de-Tayac

Evocation d'une parure paléolithique
F. Boutis, 2004

La réalisation de ces pièces contemporaines s'est appuyée sur l'étude d'éléments de parures paléolithique.

Evocation of a Paleolithic parure
F. Boutis, 2004

This beautiful recreation was based on study of the elements of Paleolithic decorated clothing.

Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
Source: Originals on display at Le Musée National de Préhistoire, Les Eyzies-de-Tayac

Carvings from La Madeleine in the Dordogne

These stunning pieces of art were used as propulseurs.

Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
Source: Originals on display at Le Musée National de Préhistoire, Les Eyzies-de-Tayac

This piece was labelled "Ciseau - Magdalénien moyen" which translates literally as "Chisel - Middle Magdalenian". It looked to me more like a rough draft for a venus figure.

Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
Source: Original on display at Le Musée National de Préhistoire, Les Eyzies-de-Tayac

Batons perforé - 1, 2, 3, Magdalénien moyen, 4, 5 Magdalénien supérieur

Pierced baton - 1, 2, 3 Middle Magdalenian, 4, 5 Upper Magdalenian

Note that baton 1 has been carved with the likeness of two aurochs or bison, or one of each - the lower one seems to have the characteristic "beard" of a bison.

Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
Source: Originals on display at Le Musée National de Préhistoire, Les Eyzies-de-Tayac

(Bâtons de commandement or bâtons percé or batons perforé have been pretty much decided to have been spear straighteners, (which may be why they are often found broken at the hole). No one seriously thinks they were marks of rank within the community any more.

The spears used are more properly referred to as darts, they were not the strong thrusting spear as used by, say, the Romans, but a long, thin, whippy piece of wood. The ability to bend is an integral part of why they are able to be thrown such long distances. The bend stores up energy which is released in the form of extra speed as it leaves the spear thrower.

An alternative explanation, and one that has been confirmed by experiment, is that the batons can be used as spear throwers or atlatls. You can attach a thong near (but not at) the end of a spear, thread the thong through the hole, lay it along the baton, hold the baton and the thong and the spear (!) in one hand, and by deft handling, send the spear and the attached thong on its way just as with a conventional spear thrower, of which there are of course many examples. I have read of one of these batons showing wear from a leather thong, so it is possible that some were used in that way. You've then got a spear thrower and a spear straightener all in the one tool! - Don)

Gauche (14) - Phallus sur antler - Magdalénien supérieur
Left (14) - Phallus carved from "antler" (deer or reindeer?) - Upper Magdalenian

Droit (12) - Phallus sur bois de renne - Magdalénien supérieur
Right (12) - Phallus carved from reindeer antler - Upper Magdalenian

Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
Source: Originals on display at Le Musée National de Préhistoire, Les Eyzies-de-Tayac

Gauche (12) - Bâton percé - Magdalénien supérieur
Left (12) - Pierced baton - Upper Magdalenian

Droit (13) - Bois de renne sculpté d'une tête de cheval - Magdalénien supérieur
Right (13 - Reindeer antler sculpted into the shape of a horse's head.

Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
Source: Originals on display at Le Musée National de Préhistoire, Les Eyzies-de-Tayac

19 La Madelaine - Compresseur - Magdalénien

20 Saint-Germain-la-Rivière - Bâton percé (pierced baton) - Magdalénien

21 Grotte des Eyzies - Fragment de côte (rib) - Magdalénien

22 Pont-d'Ambon - Fragment d'os (fragment of bone) - Azilien

23 Laugerie-Basse Bois de cervidé (deer antler) - Magdalénien

(Note - number 20 seems mislabelled, it seems not to be a Bâton percé, it is much more likely to be a compresseur, used for doing delicate retouch on a flint tool - Don)

Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
Source: Originals on display at Le Musée National de Préhistoire, Les Eyzies-de-Tayac

La Madeleine tools.

Denis Peyrony is a giant of the field in this area. He made many important discoveries, and was indefatigable in his endeavours to find and recover for science evidence of the former inhabitants of the Dordogne.

Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
Source: Originals on display at Le Musée National de Préhistoire, Les Eyzies-de-Tayac

Gauche - Ciseau - Magdalénien supérieur
Left - Chisel- Upper Magdalenian

(Note - Ciseau translates as chisel, and I have found that they are used for scraping, or at least have marks due to scraping, but I am very unsure of their exact mode of use. The ones I have seen have all been decorated, but this might be because decorated tools are more likely to be photographed and displayed - Don)

Right - Plaquette - Magdalénien supérieur
Right - Carved plaque - Upper Magdalenian

Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
Source: Originals on display at Le Musée National de Préhistoire, Les Eyzies-de-Tayac

Propulseur - Magdalénien moyen

Propulseur - Middle Magdalenian

(This propulseur is enigmatic, it reminds me of a fish shape, but it is difficult to identify the carvings as anything in particular. I would like to have been able to turn it over and examine it more carefully. - Don)

Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
Source: Original on display at Le Musée National de Préhistoire, Les Eyzies-de-Tayac

Coxal d'herbivore - Magdalénien moyen

Coxal bone of a herbivore - Middle Magdalenian

(The coxal bone is part of the pelvis. This one has been decorated with a carving of what could be a reindeer or horse - Don)

Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
Source: Original on display at Le Musée National de Préhistoire, Les Eyzies-de-Tayac

Épois - Magdalénien moyen

Point from the end of a deer's antlers, decorated with what could be a horse or a deer - Middle Magdalenian

Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
Source: Original on display at Le Musée National de Préhistoire, Les Eyzies-de-Tayac

Diaphyse - Magdalénien moyen

Decorated long bone - Middle Magdalenian

This is a curious creature. It bears some resemblance to an otter. Only one rear limb is shown on the engraving.

Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
Source: Original on display at Le Musée National de Préhistoire, Les Eyzies-de-Tayac

This image of two creatures is remarkably similar to the otter-like one above, but importantly, it is shown wearing neckbands, bracelets and anklets. These creatures may be human, or figures from mythology, or even two images of an animal god of some kind. They may also represent a shaman dressed in shape-shifting clothes and mask.

The creatures are marked with barbs and other symbols, but it is not certain what they represent.

Source: "Exploring the Ice Age" by Margaret Cooper, copyright 2001, isbn 0-689-82556-0

The book says that it comes from a French Pyrenees rock shelter, but no other information is given.

My thanks to Marion for bringing this excellent book to my attention.

Ronde-Bosse de patte de cheval- Magdalénien moyen

Carving of a horse - Middle Magdalenian

Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
Source: Original on display at Le Musée National de Préhistoire, Les Eyzies-de-Tayac

Ronde-Bosse de bison- Magdalénien moyen

Carving of a bison - Middle Magdalenian

Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
Source: Original on display at Le Musée National de Préhistoire, Les Eyzies-de-Tayac

Baguette demi-ronde- Magdalénien supérieur

This baguette demi-ronde is possibly one half of a projectile point that together with another similar one would form a specific point - a baguette demi-ronde. - Middle Magdalenian

Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
Source: Original on display at Le Musée National de Préhistoire, Les Eyzies-de-Tayac

(The carvings on this piece are surreal - what looks like a bear's head and a double phallus.

As far as I can make out, baguette demi-rondes were fixed to a shaft, (somehow!) and the reason for the half round shape, i.e. round on one side, flat on the other, is that they were tied together around a flint (or bone or ivory I suppose) projectile point, with the flat sides against the point and each other, the round shape towards the outside.

Thus the two round sides made a roughly cylindrical shape, which could then be, say, inserted in a socket in the spear shaft and secured in some way. The end of the spear shaft could also have been whittled down to a tongue shape, flat on both sides, around which the two baguette demi-rondes were placed and secured with cord. If I was doing it, that's what I would try first. The darts weren't really of a large enough diameter to be able to carve a hole to accept the baguette demi-ronde. Harpoon shafts, however, were used more as thrusting spears as far as I can work out, so they could be of a much larger diameter, into which you could carve a socket.

Birch bark glue may have been used, and the glue would also have been used to strengthen the cords holding the two halves together. Birch bark glue is a very difficult glue to make, but the technique was well understood at that time.

The advantage is that if the flint is broken by impact with the ground or a bone, you can simply insert another flint head, attach it with cord or a leather thong, and you are ready to hunt again. You then only have to carry a few spear shafts and many light and easily packed flints when you go on a hunt, apart from the other things you need.

The spears used are more properly referred to as darts, they were not the strong thrusting spear as used by, say, the Romans, but a long, thin, whippy piece of wood. The ability to bend is an integral part of why they are able to be thrown such long distances. The bend stores up energy which is released in the form of extra speed as it leaves the spear thrower, and the spear straightens.

I emphasise that this is all conjecture on my part, I have been unable to get anything more than very unsatisfactory allusions to the technique.

However the idea of a fore-shaft is one that was used in a number of cases, and especially for harpoon heads. Methods were needed to attach bone or ivory harpoon heads to the shaft of the harpoon, and I've heard of sockets being used in that instance.

In the abstract of Pearson (1999) you will find this, in reference to north american hunting methods:

Based on the compiled information, a new hafting method for Clovis points is put forth that links the attributes of bi-beveled rods to a specific role within this system. This new hypothesis suggests that bi-beveled rods were tied facing each other around a Clovis point and a main shaft as part of composite clothes pin-like foreshafts.

- Don)

Base de perche débitée- Magdalénien supérieur

Carved bone - Upper Magdalenian

Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
Source: Original on display at Le Musée National de Préhistoire, Les Eyzies-de-Tayac

Woolly Mammoth engraved on a plate of ivory found in the cavern of La Madelaine, Perigord
Photo: C. Lyell 'The Antiquity of Man' (1873)

Mammouth gravé sur un gros fragment d'ivoire de mammouth trouvé lors des fouilles de l'abri-sous-roche de La Madeleine près des Eyzies par Edouard Lartet en mai 1864. Photo H. Delporte.

Mammoth engraved on a large fragment of mammoth ivory found at the time of the excavations of the rock shelter of the Madeleine close of Eyzies by Edouard Lartet in May 1864. Photo H. Delporte.

Photo and French text: "les mammouths - Dossiers Archéologie - n° 291 - Mars 2004"

My thanks to Anya for access to this resource.

La Madeleine Medieval rock shelter panorama

Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008

Panoramic view of part of the inside of the Medieval La Madeleine rock shelter

Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008

References

Pearson, G., 1999: North American Paleoindian Bi-Beveled Bone and Ivory Rods: A New Interpretation, North American Archaeologist, Volume 20, Number 2 / 1999 pp 81 - 103

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File last updated: Tuesday, 18th May 2010 15:43

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