The functions of many of the objects fabricated in bone, antler, and ivory remain unknown to us. Perhaps the most puzzling of these is the pierced reindeer antler "baton," first seen at the beginning of the Upper Paleolithic and continuously present until the end. It consists of part of the shaft of a reindeer antler, perforated by drilling and often decorated with engraved or sculpted animals. Hypotheses about the purpose of these objects range from identification as symbols of leadership to spear-shaft straighteners, to handles for slings, to cheek pieces for bridle bits, to tent pegs. The answer remains elusive.
A pierced baton of reindeer antler, with engraving of the forequarters of a horse in profile from the Magdalenian site of Bruniquel, France.
A pierced baton with four large-headed horses.on side visible, and three on the other from the Magdalenian site of La Madeleine, France. Horses are the most frequent theme on pierced batons.
A broken pierced baton engraved with a complex image that includes two horse heads, a snake and a simple human figure with a "stick" over the shoulder from the Magdalenian site of La Madeleine, France.
A sculpted and engraved pierced baton of reindeer antler known as "la chasse à l'aurochs." There is a sculpted deer head around the broken hole at right as well as three sculpted human figures, one apparently holding a bow aimed at a sculpted aurochs. This Magdalenian object is from the site of La Vache in the French Pyrenees.
A pierced baton engraved with what are perhaps vegetal figures from the Magdalenian site of La Peyzie, France.