Overview of Ibex representations in prehistoric times
The ibex was common in prehistoric times, and was widely hunted and consumed, and especially depicted during the Late Palaeolithic in Europe, particularly in the Franco-Cantabrian area.
Its symbolic importance is amply demonstrated by some famous figures, such as one of the painted ibexes in Niaux Cave (Ariège, Pyrenees, France), the sculpture on a sperm whale tooth in Mas d'Azil Cave (Ariège, Pyrenees, France), the ibexes facing one another at Roc-de-Sers (Charente) or Lascaux (Dordogne), or the herd of jumping ibexes in the almost monothematic El Bosque Cave (Asturias). The ibex was ubiquitous throughout the Late Palaeolithic period, and was the third most represented animal overall after the horse and the bison.
In the Holocene, the ibex was even the most represented animal in the Mesolithic art of the Spanish Levant and in the later rock art of the Near and Middle East, right up to the confines of Tibet.
Georges Sauvet, former university professor, Associate member of CREAP, Toulouse.
Quote this text (English version) : Sauvet G. 2022, Representation of the ibex in: Averbouh A., Feruglio F. & Plassard F. Dir. The Jean-Clottes database, Animal representation in Prehistory (BJC), "Ibex File", English version online on XXXX 2024, https://animal-representation.cnrs.fr/s/bjc/page/origine-zoologie-bouquetin[MOU1]
Quote this text (version française) : Sauvet G. 2022, Représentation du bouquetin in : Averbouh A., Feruglio F. & Plassard F. Dir. Base Jean-Clottes, Les représentations animales de la Préhistoire (BJC), "Dossier bouquetin", mis en ligne le 15 Novembre 2022, https://animal-representation.cnrs.fr/s/bjc/page/representation-bouquetin[MOU2]
References used
Sauvet G., Feruglio V. & Plassard F. 2020. Le bouquetin dans l’art paléolithique. In Averbouh A., Feruglio V., Plassard F. et Sauvet dir. Bouquetins et Pyrénées. Tome I De la Préhistoire à nos jours. Offert à Jean Clottes, conservateur général honoraire du Patrimoine, Aix-en-Provence : Presses Universitaires de Provence, PréMed, 249-258