Palette – zoomorphic, Barbary sheep PAL-0002

The head, well-detailed and delicately carved, can be recognised as that of a Barbary sheep. It has strongly curved horns with bosses carved on the edge; a longitudinal, shallow groove lightly separates the right and left horns from one another. A large, circular hole drilled through the object gives the impression that the horns project away from the back of the head. The eyes are indicated by a much smaller hole, also drilled through the object, into which an inlay is fitted. Below the horns, a triangular ear is carved out. The muzzle bends downward and a small incision marks the mouth. The neck is rather long and a slight hump is indicated where it joins the back. A series of incised lines along the front of the neck represent the frontal mane, another feature typical of the Barbary sheep. The legs, heavily stylised, are represented by two small, non-naturalistic projections under the body.