Har Karkom HK86b 'Surrey-style' Flints - (d) wild goat.

Comment: A masterpiece 'wild goat'? This flaked flint appears most likely to represent an ibex, such as Capra ibex nubiana, which has long semicircular horns with transverse knobs and downward pointing muzzle, which distinguishes it from a gazelle. It bears a lesser resemblance to a topi, oryx, or roan antelope.

Photo © James Harrod

Submitted Comments.
3/2000 Ursel Benekendorff agrees that the overall figure is that of an ibex, but additional figures seem to be present. The ear of the ibex may be styled into a mask (micro) and further along in the central nodes of the horn there may be a small figure
3/2000 Jan Evert Musch concurs with the ibex image, and adds that there is also a Neanderthaler profile on the top looking up, or if turned 90 degrees clockwise, looking right. Nose, lips, and chin are all there, even eyes. This is clearer in images (e) and (f). This suggests late (evolved) Neanderthalers in the Near East. We have a number of such Neanderthaler images from Ron Williams' site in Warlingham, Ursel Benekendorff's Pampau from surface level, and other sites in the Netherlands. Most of these artifacts are worked by single strokes, rather than dozens of small chips. Based on many sites like those just noted I attribute this style of workmanship to the evolved Neanderthaler, perhaps as late as 30 or 40,000 years ago. Unfortunately, these fauna--ibex, equid, elephant, swan, bird, hippopotamus--don't narrow down the time period.
OriginsNet responds: Brilliant. An ibex/Neanderthaler combination. This explains the deeply angled working of the nodes in the horn of the Nubian ibex. It was done not only to suggest the nodes in the ibex's horns but also to capture the facial profile.