Differentiate Aurignacian art to Magdalenian art?

Answer 1

The short answer is that only the large period of time distinguishes these two ART traditions (about 20,000 years apart). The art is quite similar in subject and in form and techniques. The tools forms, however, are notably different. There is just a lot more image-making found from the Magdalenian, thus, more variety. Hopefully, we will find more Aurignacian cave art soon. Ok, and maybe we don't technically have polychromatic paintings from the Aurignacian, yet.

What a great question! In very broad strokes, we are dealing with two of the four cultures of the European Upper Paleolithic, the art of which is mostly yet found in Western Europe (France, Germany, maybe Austria) and defined by lithic analysis (stone tool types) and carbon dates. The Aurignacian is the oldest of these periods and is the first evidence of the presence of fully modern humans, known as Homo sapiens sapiens (you and me), in Europe. They likely came from the East. The Aurignacian period dates roughly from 37,000 years ago to 26,000 years ago. Very recent archaeological work at Hohle Fels, Geissenklosterle, Hohlenstein-Stadel in southwestern Germany uncovered the world's earliest sculptures which date to this time (35,000 ya - see Conard 2009), along with the remains of more than 3 bone and ivory flutes. So, art and music are the twin daughters of modern humans, and imply ritual and complete cognitive modernity (think playing with musical scale). The sculptures are small (2-3 inches). We have some larger pieces as well (the Lion-Human is 9 inches?). Some are very simple animals but show sensitivity to motion and form, if you really look. One is a bird. The Vogelherd horse probably belongs to this tradition and is utterly elegant and was likely handled and worn a lot due to the patina on its surface, suggesting concepts of animism (like a rabbit's foot for protection) and contagious magic. At least two figures are 'transforming'. They are composite figures combining human form (upright posture) with a lion's head and possibly a lion's mane. This also supports a world view involving animism. The lion and human aspects are readily identifiable, one does not have to guess. Also, the Hohlenstein Stadel is definitively male, the shoulder area and upper arm are masculine. 'Tattoos' or marking of some sort are apparent on the shoulder. Finally, the Hohle Fels venus figurine is completely erotic with outlandish exaggeration and attention to the female sexual anatomy. Whoa. The Araucanian's also made paintings and engravings to die for in caves, Chavez cave defies brief description but check out the French Government's website and bow down to the astonishing naturalism, cinematic elements, and intensity of their works. The End Chamber at Chauvet is absolute evidence of image making as hunting magic.

The Magdalena period is the most recent of the European Upper Paleolithic cultures (18,500 to 10,500 BC). Perhaps due to being closer to the surface in archaeological strata, or due to population growth in that time, or just luck, archaeologists and pre historians have been amassing material from the Magdalena for 150 years and there is a LOT of stuff. Engraved bones, stones, tools - a veritable 'explosion of culture' in the words of John Pfeiffer - many 'new' tool forms made out of antler (harpoons) and bone. I'm not sure if bone needles are just a Magdalena phenomenon and not an Araucanian tool, as well, I would bet both but there are a lot in the latter period). There are repeated themes in the carvings (a young ibex turns to look at its tail) as if a Paleolithic Wall Mart in the Arie made an order for hundreds of these... bones with mysterious pictures of bear men, of salmon migrating upstream, of plants... basically so much engraving that it boggles the mind. Remember, this was the modern mind, but before TV or theme parks. Some scholars suggest there is notational recording of 'cycles of the moon' or other such phenomena in patterns of dots (Masaryk) Also, a great number of paintings and engravings in cave sites and much of this in very deep cave contexts. Lascaux is an example from 15000 BC - polychromatic paintings, utter creativity, sensitivity to the forms emerging out of cave walls - animals with personality, vitality, motion, shading, volume, line and unique artistic techniques in certain caves to depict depth, for instance. Also, a scene telling a very 'mental' story about a man hunting who may be depicted in trance (Bird Headed Man in Well Scene at Lascaux). Altamira is at the other end of the Magdalena - near the end of the epoch. In the Pyrenees there is the image of a human/animal form high on a cave wall 2 miles down deep. He (genitalia clearly depicted) is bent over, covered with animal fur but his interior musculature clearly rendered - knee cap, thigh muscles, calf muscles, human feet with toes (X ray art) - and staring straight out at the viewer with an animal head and complete with a rack of antlers - okay, and there is also a bone flute found in this cave. A similar figure of a guy wearing a bison skin and head is found at Chavez, so there is not really any distinction in themes between the two periods of time. Just more variety in the Magdalena but don't hold your breath that more things won't be found dating to the Araucanian. Someone once suggested art has gone downhill ever since. Basically, once you get modern humans, you have the potential for incredibly naturalistic art and for complex music - it's hardwired in the brain.