Aurignacian

American  

[awr-in-yey-shuhn] / ˌɔr ɪnˈyeɪ ʃən /

adjective

1. of, belonging to, or typical of an Upper Paleolithic industry with characteristic stone and bone artifacts that is distributed from western France to eastern Europe and the Middle East.

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Aurignacian British  

/ ˌɔːrɪɡˈneɪʃən /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or produced during a flint culture of the Upper Palaeolithic type characterized by the use of bone and antler tools, pins, awls, etc, and also by cave art and evidence of the beginnings of religion

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Aurignacian Scientific  

/ ôr′ĭg-nā′shən,ôr′ēn-yā′- /

1. Relating to an Upper Paleolithic culture in Europe between the Mousterian and Solutrean cultures, dating from around 32,000 to 25,000 years ago and characterized by flaked stone, bone, and antler tools such as scrapers, awls, and burins (engraving tools). Aurignacian culture is associated with Cro-Magnon populations and is especially noted for its well-developed art tradition, including engraved and sculpted animal forms and female figurines thought to be fertility objects. The earliest fully developed cave art, such as the painted animals in the Lascaux cave in southwest France, dates from this period.

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Etymology

Origin of Aurignacian

First recorded in 1910–15; Aurignac + -ian

Example Sentences

Dr. Posth and his colleagues named the western population the Fournol people, and found a genetic link between this group and 35,000-year-old Aurignacian remains in Belgium.

From New York Times • Mar. 1, 2023

But researchers have puzzled over who crafted “transitional” artifacts—a grab bag of bone tools, beads, and jewelry immediately preceding the Aurignacian.

From Science Magazine • May 11, 2020

Radiocarbon dating pegs the Goyet individual at some 35,000 years old, making him a likely member of the Aurignacian culture.

From Washington Post • May 5, 2016

Drawn in profile with only two feet, they are among man's earliest attempts at graphic representation, doubtless done early in the Aurignacian period.

From Time Magazine Archive

The Aurignacian is a smaller flake industry, with many lumps more or less conical, and often with careful parallel flaking or fluting.

From How to Observe in Archaeology by Various