Baton with frieze of engraved ibex drawings
Duruthy, Landes, France
Antler
Length: 15.3 cms
Musée archéologique d’Arthous, Hastingues
ma950904 79.1.3
Although only engraved on one side the line of ibex heads on this baton fragment are drawn with the assurance and fluency of a confident, practised hand. The engraved lines are applied obliquely to give the outlines some slight relief. The two complete heads positioned at the centre of the shaft or handle of the baton are shown with their noses up and their horns and ears tilted back. Their mouths are open and the lines of their backs suggest they are side by side with one ahead of the other. The spirals of their horns and the long hairs on the back of their necks are shaded with engraved lines. The posture of the heads suggests the animals are animated or excited. The head of the animal at the back is interrupted by the hole and was broken in ancient times. It is positioned differently in a horizontal position with its mouth closed suggesting its distinctive, calm posture. As no ibex bones are known from among the food remains at the little cave of Duruthy the composition may reflect an awareness of a different area of their territory where hunters perhaps observed rutting ibex.