Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/24257
Title: Bovine depictions in Maltese prehistoric art
Authors: Savona-Ventura, Charles
Mifsud, Anton
Keywords: Prehistory -- Malta
Art, Prehistoric -- Malta
Cattle in art
Għar Ħasan (Birżebbuġa, Malta)
Hypogeum (Paola, Malta)
Tarxien Temples (Tarxien, Malta)
Ġgantija Temples (Xagħra, Malta)
Anthropometry
Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum (Paola, Malta)
Issue Date: 1999-11
Publisher: Centro Camuno di Studi Preistorici
Citation: Savona-Ventura, C. & Mifsud, A. (1999). Bovine depictions in Maltese prehistoric art. Bollettino del Centro Camuno di Studi Preistorici, XXXI-XXXII, 115-121
Abstract: Maltese prehistoric art has several examples depicting bulls and cows. The earliest depictions appear as cave paintings and suggest a long-horned bull variety. These cave paintings have features suggestive of Palaeolithic art. Late Neolithic depictions of bulls and cows exist as bas-reliefs, pottery depictions, or models. These pictorial representations confirm the skeletal record and suggest the bull to have been a humped, long-horned variety showing close similarities to the modern day Ankole-Wattusi Cattle which originated in Africa. Measurement ratios of the Neolithic bovid depictions were compared to similar measurement taken from photographs of the modern day Maltese humped, short-horned breed of bull. These measurements confirm a statistically significant difference, probably resulting from subsequent evolution of the species and pictorial licence.
URI: https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar//handle/123456789/24257
Appears in Collections:Scholarly Works - FacM&SOG

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