The Adorant

This rectangular plate has a front face which features a half-relief of an anthropoidal figure, which is interpreted as a human or potentially a human-feline hybrid, depicted with raised arms and outstretched legs, though lacking hands. This posture has been interpreted as an act of worship, hence the name 'adorant' meaning 'worshipper'. 

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The reverse side and its four edges are inscribed with a series of 88 intentional notches. Specifically, the edges contain 39 notches grouped as 6, 13, 7, and 13, while an additional 49 notches on side B are arranged in four vertical lines of 13, 10, 12, and 13 respectively, plus one more notch. 

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The grouping of these notches suggests a time-related sequence. The total of 88 notches coincides with the number of days in three lunar cycles (88.5 days) and approximates the period the star Betelgeuse (Orion) was annually invisible around 33,000 BP. 

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The nine-month period when Orion was visible in the sky broadly matches the duration of human pregnancy, suggesting a practical "rule of thumb" for an ideal timing of births. It is considered the oldest identifiable visualization of an asterism combined with such time reckoning.

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"The grouping of the notches on the plate suggests a time-related sequence. The total number of notches (88) not only coincides with the number of days in 3 lunations (88.5) but also approximately with the number of days when the star Betelgeuse (α Ori) disappeared from view each year between its heliacal set (about 14 days before the spring equinox around 33,000 BP) and its heliacal rise (approximately 19 days before the summer solstice). Conversely, the nine-month period when Orion was visible in the sky approximately matched the duration of human pregnancy, and the timing of the heliacal rise in early summer would have facilitated a ‘rule of thumb’ whereby, by timing conception close to the reappearance of the constellation, it could be ensured that a birth would take place after the severe winter half-year, but leaving enough time for sufficient nutrition of the baby before the beginning of the next winter. There is a resemblance between the anthropoid on side A and the constellation Orion." (Astronomical Heritage, n.d.)

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Microscopic analysis has revealed traces of manganese and red ochre on side B, indicating intentional application. Ochre was often used in Palaeolithic rituals. 

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The Adorant was excavated in 1979 from Aurignacian archaeological layers.