The elk/moose (Alces alces) in the Upper Palaeolithic Art of Western Europe

Abstract

The elk (Alces alces)-moose in American Englishbelongs to the family Cervidae and is within this family the largest species. After the European bison (Bison bonasus) it is the biggest land mammal of Europe. Although it had a large distribution area during the last glacial period its fossil remains are rare. It is therefore not surprising that the elk was rarely represented in Upper Palaeolithic art (cave and portable art). The following article describes the few definite and potential representations of elk in Western European Upper Palaeolithic art.

Cervidae antlers exploited to manufacture prehistoric tools and hunting implements as a reliable source of ancient DNA

“…The unique status of Cervidae in Late Pleistocene hunter-gatherer societies is further reflected by the finding of many personal ornaments made from perforated red deer teeth [ 74 , 75 ], and through the frequent representations of red deer in Southeast European parietal and portable art [ [76] , [77] , [78] ], as well as that of other cervid species [ 79 , 80 ]. Due to the diversity of the various cervid species’ antlers' availability and technical constraints, there is high value in identifying the selected taxa in each region, site and layer, thereby allowing us to differentiate ecological and technological choices against the cultural selections of our Prehistoric ancestors.…”