Date:         Thu, 18 Dec 2003 16:12:50 -0500
Reply-To:     Maryland Birds & Birding <MDOSPREY@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
Sender:       Maryland Birds & Birding <MDOSPREY@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
From:         Norm Saunders <marshhawk@ATT.NET>
Subject:      FW: Waterfowl Carving in Mammoth Ivory
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> -----Original Message-----
> From: Leo Weigant [mailto:weigant@usna.edu]
> Sent: Thursday, December 18, 2003 8:41 AM
> To: marshhawk@ATT.net
> Subject: Waterfowl Carving in Mammoth Ivory
>
>
> The papers this morning (e.g. Baltimore Sun, p. 12-A) carried pictures 
> and a story about the earliest known human carving, a finely rendered
> waterfowl (carbon-dated ca. 31,000 to 33,000 years ago.)
>
> There was much speculation about the anthropological significance of 
> this apparently shamanistic figure and a glancing observation on the 
> art-history implications of this very oldest work of art.
>
> But not one mention was made of the really important matter
involved -
> - the earliest known birder and most ancient of all bird 
> identification
> problem.   How could they have missed this one?
>
> This first precursor of Roger Tory Peterson was obvioiusly working 
> form
> a study skin of, I would guess, a commmon loon.   But I am not at
all
> knowlegeable about mid-european avifauna and would welcome any 
> speculation by those who are.
>
> Sincerely,     Leo Weigant
>

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