2. Cave Paintings Two ibexes, head to head
Cave paintings, some estimated to be as old as 35,000 years, are the grandest and most awe-inspiring artistic creations of homo sapiens during the Paleolithic period.
Lascaux
Two ibexes, head to head

3. Chauvet – over 30,000years ago; Lascaux –over 15,000 years ago; Altamira – also about 15,000 years ago; Australia ?

4. Southern European Sites

5. Great Hall of the Bulls at Lascaux
These paintings (as are most cave paintings) are deep in the caves, hard to reach, and are not touched by sunlight. The purpose of the paitnings was not public consumption. A common theory is a more mystical reason that by painting these animals they will make them abundant in real life.

6. Falling Cow at Lascaux
Back legs slipping out, front straddling

7. Longhorns from Lascaux

8. Black Stag at Lascaux

9. Chauvet: Bear and panther
Many more aggressive, carnivorous beasts depicted at this very early site

10. 2 Bears at Chauvet
Contours of walls used to show animal’s features, posture, and/or movement

11. Engraved Owl at Chauvet
Head is swiveled 180^ so facing over his back

12. Chauvet: Assorted Animal Engravings
Horse and mammoths evident to right . Others??

13. Back-to Back Bison at Lascaux

14. Giant Deer at Chauvet
The next four paintings are of various animals that share common characteristics. What are those characteristics? What do they point to as a reason for creating these paitnings?
Megaceros – giant deer – artist’s shading leads eye to upturned neck and humped back
careful planning – surface scraped smooth

15. Bison from Altamira

16. Cow at Lascaux
Neck purposely shaded, the natural contours of the rock are used to create a distended abdomen, most likely to represent pregnancy. Thus insuring a continuation of the food supply.

17. Horse at Lascaux
Note that the horse has several spears in him and is bleeding profusely. Just like they would like to see happen in real life.

18. Human figure
Compare the representation of the human figure to those of the animals you just saw. What conclusions can you draw?
Symbols? “Duck on a Stick”? Human has same head as the bird?? Spear-thrower at man’s feet?
Bison’s head definitely lowered to aggressive position

19. “Sign Language” at Chauvet
Red dots at Chauvet – significance? – same sign found in similar chamber at outer edge of painted rooms – “end of gallery”?

20. Symbol in front of Falling Cow
What could it mean?

21. More signs at Chauvet
Find the tiny horse heads – is that a boomerang on the right?

22. Branching sign

23. Artist’s Handprint
Chauvet Caves – finely ground red pigment – spit around artist’s hand – signature?

24. Lascaux Lamp
Engraved symbols

25. Lamps: Found at Lascaux
Burned animal fat – wicks made of ????

26. Incised Bracelet
Mammoth ivory

27. Sculpture: Venus of Willendorf
Is she pregnant? Fertility symbol, mother earth goddess? Some say she’s just fat!! Wife of the chief – obesity a sign of not having to work???

28. Dolni Vestonice
“Venus” from Italy

29. Lady of Brassempoui

30. Stonehenge
Much later than other figures. Still prehistoric. Post and Lintel construction. How built? Why built? Astronomical calendar?!

31. Stonehenge

32. Drawing of reconstructed Stonehenge