Using data that range temporally from 35, 000 to 10, 000 years ago
and spatially from Britain to Russia, this article examines 2,010
images of large animals engraved on bone-"bone art." Variations
in the prevalence and distribution of bone art are identified and
patterns sought to help explain the purpose of the art. The relation ship of bone art to the more prevalent cave-wall art is explored. The
data suggest that bone art served more individualistic, secular
purposes than cave-wall art and probably developed later. Other
comparative data suggest parallels between animal engravings
done on bone with those on cave walls and stone plaquettes.
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