The Solutrean Sculptures of Le Roc

Extract

Recent discoveries in the Valley of Le Roc (Charente, France) have thrown entirely new light upon the art of the Solutrean period. Though gems of flint workmanship, like the laurel-leaf blades and single-sided shoulder-points occur, engravings and sculptures were formerly considered rare.

Before the Le Roc discoveries, the known Solutrean engravings were confined to an antelope head found at La Cave (Lot) by M. A. VirC, a horse identified at Solutrb by Dr F. Arcelin and the AbbC Breuil, a mammoth from Bavaria and another from Ardkche (France). To these should be added the sculptures of the Fourneau du Diable (Dordogne), found by M. Peyrony. These last were on blocks which rested on a typical hearth-level and their age seems quite certain. Their style, compared with that of Le Roc, is relatively primitive.