Advertisement

Advertisement

Magdalenian

[ mag-duh-lee-nee-uhn ]

adjective

  1. of or relating to the final Paleolithic culture of much of western Europe, dating from c13,000–10,000 b.c. and notable for its artifacts of bone, antler, and ivory and for the cave art of western France and northeastern Spain.


Magdalenian

/ ˌmæɡdəˈliːnɪən /

adjective

  1. of or relating to the latest Palaeolithic culture in Europe, which ended about 10 000 years ago


noun

  1. the Magdalenian culture

Magdalenian

/ măg′də-lēnē-ən /

  1. Relating to the final Upper Paleolithic culture of Europe, succeeding the Solutrean and dating from about 17,000 to 11,000 years ago. Magdalenian tools and weapons are highly specialized and demonstrate skilled craftsmanship in bone and antler as well as flaked stone. The Magdalenians are best known for their sophisticated artwork, including engravings, sculpture, and polychrome wall paintings such as those found in the Altamira caverns in northern Spain.


Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of Magdalenian1

1880–85; < French magdalénien, equivalent to Magdalen- (Latinization of La Madeleine, the type site in SW France) + -ien -ian

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of Magdalenian1

C19: from French magdalénien, after La Madeleine, village in Dordogne, France, near which artefacts of the culture were found

Discover More

Example Sentences

The site was used by Magdalenian people, hunter-gatherers who inhabited the area between 23,000 and 14,000 years ago.

We still seem to detect the influence of a decadent, late Magdalenian style of ornament.

Dark Magdalenian layer, with reindeer harpoons, engravings, and sculptures.

New Neolithic types of culture had already entered Italy, perhaps as early as Magdalenian times.

We find in Poland the remains of a culture akin in its carvings to the Magdalenian culture of western Europe.

The Cro-Magnon race was already declining in physique and numbers during the Magdalenian.

Advertisement

Word of the Day

gallimaufry

[gal-uh-maw-free ]

Meaning and examples

Start each day with the Word of the Day in your inbox!

By clicking "Sign Up", you are accepting Dictionary.com Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policies.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


MagdaleneMagdeburg