Repeated marks identified by Abri Castanet's original excavator Denis Peyrony are called "anneaux" ("rings" in French): intaglio rings raised above the surface of the rock. These were made by first preparing a flat surface, and then tracing a narrow band in a circle or oval shape by pecking on both sides, leaving the band raised above the surface. While the image is a little subtle, the edge of the anneau's arc is visible between the two deep pockets in the center of the image.
Peyrony thought these might be schematic representations of animal bodies: excavator Randall White reports that to date over 30 of these have been found, including some in Peyrony's back dirt pile.
Peyrony D. 1935. Le gisement Castanet, Vallon de Castelmerle, commune de Sergeac (Dordogne). Aurignacicen I et II. Bulletin de la Société préhistorique française 32(9):418-443.
White R, Mensan R, Bourrillon R, Cretin C, Higham TFG, Clark AE, Sisk ML, Tartar E, Gardère P, Goldberg P et al. 2012. Contexts and dating of Aurignacian vulvar representations from Abri Castanet, France. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Early edition.
