SolSionnach
WolfSpirit said:Hi Mi-Shell,
the companion book says he is "wrapped in a bearskin that is adorned with curious paleolithic paintings..."
I did not see any explanation in the book why bearskin, but I got my companion book of the Druid Animal Oracle out, and it says that 70,000 years ago man already revered the bear. They also found a model of a bear which was probably used in ceremonies draped with a bearskin.
Warriors wore bearskins to identify with bear power.
Seeing the importance of the skin and their worshipping of bear - I don't think they would normally hunt for bear for food if there was other food available. But they wanted to have access to the power of bear.
Interestingly enough, Cave Bear skulls were evidently held in special esteem by the Neanderthals - IIRC, one of their sites held 70+ of the skulls! I'm not sure if Cro-Magnon man (in Europe at the end of the Neanderthal times) venerated the Cave Bear or not.
I'm also a fan of the Earth's Children series (Jane Auel's books), which has some basis in scientific fact, spun into a story.