Aurochs on a perforated bone
La Garma-Galería Inferior, Cantabria, Spain
Bone
Length: 8 cms
Museo de Prehistoria y Arqueología de Cantabria, Santander
GI-1001
Wrapped around the cylinder and utilising its contours of a perforated bovid toe bone, the representation of the aurochs on this pendant is a masterpiece. Aurochs were a form of wild cattle that became extinct in the seventeenth century AD. They are distinguished by their distinctive, forward sloping, re-curving horns. Representations of aurochs are well known but less numerous in cave paintings than bison and the same applies to their frequency in portable art. This image is technically and conceptually outstanding.
The narrow, bony length of the back above the broad flanks is emphasised in low relief line achieved by engraving above and below the intended ridge. This technique is used all around the body, head, nostrils and mouth but not on the legs which are simply incised. They end above the hooves which are not represented. The animal is a well-proportioned bull drawn to scale and fitted perfectly into the cylindrical space, utilising the natural curvature of the bone to illustrate the face and emphasise the characteristic forward curve of the horns. The animal is standing but alert with his ears pricked. The face, chest and flanks are lightly shaded with diagonal incisions to show their contours and texture.
On the side of the animal above the penile tuft there is a diagonally placed arrow. Such signs are often interpreted as spears but as the animal shows no sign of anxiety it might be better read as a human signature of uncertain significance. The strange incised mark below the aurochs’ chest may be a human-like head with a pointed beard and dots for its eyes and nose. Whether this is intended to represent a real hunter on the lookout or a supernatural being is unknown. The perforation through the bone allowed the piece to be suspended with the image upside down so to view the correct way up the wearer would have had to hold it in position.
Was this fine bull a totem or could it have been the spirit helper of a shaman?
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