The significance of the gesture of raised arms in this sculpture from Laugerie Basse, an important Upper Palaeolithic archaeological site near Les Eyzies-de-Tayac-Sireuil in Dordogne, is unknown. Perhaps it represents a social or religious ritual. Carved from reindeer antler, it is thought to from the Magdalenian period some 14,000 years ago.

Musée d’Archéologie nationale, Saint-Germain-en-Laye, Paris.

The most widely-spread and best-known Palaeolithic culture, which started around 17,000 years ago and ended around 11,000 years ago. Its name derives from the La Madeleine site in Dordogne, France. Some of the high points in cave art in all its forms - sculpture, black drawings, polychrome painting, modelling and engraving - are to be found in this period.

Source: Dr Jean Clottes

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