---
title: Creeping Hyena Spear Thrower of La Madeleine
author: Enigma51
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/image/6113/creeping-hyena-spear-thrower-of-la-madeleine/
format: machine-readable-alternate
license: Creative Commons Attribution (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0)
updated: 2024-06-07
---

# Creeping Hyena Spear Thrower of La Madeleine

_Authored by Enigma51_

## Image File

[![Creeping Hyena Spear Thrower of La Madeleine](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/6113.jpg)](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/6113.jpg)

## Image Caption

This 'creeping hyena' forms the highly decorated butt-end of an Upper [Paleolithic](https://www.worldhistory.org/Paleolithic/) spear thrower (also known as atlatl). The hook used to propel the spear is clearly visible. It was found at La Madeleine rock shelter in Tursac, Dordogne, France, and belongs to the Magdalenien [culture](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/culture/) (c. 17,000 to c. 12,000 years ago). It is 10.7 cm long and is on display in the National Prehistory Museum in Les Eyzies-de-Tayac, France.

## Cite This Work

### APA
Enigma51. (2016, December 09). Creeping Hyena Spear Thrower of La Madeleine. *World History Encyclopedia*. <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/6113/creeping-hyena-spear-thrower-of-la-madeleine/>
### Chicago
Enigma51. "Creeping Hyena Spear Thrower of La Madeleine." *World History Encyclopedia*, December 09, 2016. <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/6113/creeping-hyena-spear-thrower-of-la-madeleine/>.
### MLA
Enigma51. "Creeping Hyena Spear Thrower of La Madeleine." *World History Encyclopedia*, 09 Dec 2016, <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/6113/creeping-hyena-spear-thrower-of-la-madeleine/>.

## License & Copyright

[Original image](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Speerschleuder_LaMadeleine.jpg) by [**Enigma51**](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Speerschleuder_LaMadeleine.jpg). Submitted by [Emma Groeneveld](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/emmagroeneveld1/ "User Page: Emma Groeneveld"), published on 09 December 2016. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0deed.en). This license lets others distribute, remix, tweak, and build upon your work, even commercially, as long as they credit you for the original creation. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.