Aurignacian

[ awr-in-yey-shuhn ]

/ ˌɔr ɪnˈyeɪ ʃən /

Save This Word!

adjective

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.

QUIZ

WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?

Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!

Question 1 of 7

Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.

who

whom

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of Aurignacian

First recorded in 1910–15; Aurignac + -ian

Words nearby Aurignacian

auriferous, auriform, aurify, Auriga, Aurignac, Aurignacian, Auriol, auriscope, aurist, Aurobindo, aurochs

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use Aurignacian in a sentence

Instead, he argues, the Aurignacian toolmakers are who first took root in Europe.
This cave hosted the oldest known human remains in Europe|Bruce Bower|June 12, 2020|Science News For Students
But the cave continued to be occupied until at the close of the Aurignacian period a fall of rock sealed up the entrance.
Prehistoric Man|W. L. H. Duckworth
This is described by some authorities as Mousterian, by others as Aurignacian; in either case as of an early Palaeolithic aspect.
Prehistoric Man|W. L. H. Duckworth
A profound change occurred when the Aurignacian stage of culture was inaugurated by the intruding Cr-Magnons.
Ancient Man in Britain|Donald A. (Donald Alexander) Mackenzie

The distinct industry revealed by the grotto finds has been named Aurignacian, after Aurignac.
Ancient Man in Britain|Donald A. (Donald Alexander) Mackenzie
It was not until the spring of 1868 that a flood of light was thrown on the Aurignacian racial problem.
Ancient Man in Britain|Donald A. (Donald Alexander) Mackenzie

British Dictionary definitions for Aurignacian

Aurignacian

/ (ˌɔːrɪɡˈneɪʃən) /

adjective

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

Word Origin for Aurignacian

C20: from French Aurignacien, after Aurignac, France, in the Pyrenees, near which is the cave where remains were discovered

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for Aurignacian

Aurignacian

[ ôr′ĭg-nā′shən, ôr′ēn-yā′- ]

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.