Cave Art 101 | National Geographic

From human hands to now-extinct animals, cave art gives us a glimpse into prehistoric life. Who created cave art, and what was its initial purpose? Explore the paintings of Chauvet-Pont d'Arc and Lascaux Grotto, and learn what prehistoric art can tell us about our world thousands of years ago.

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Cave Art 101 | National Geographic

National Geographic

[nomorepartiezz]

Everyone knows cave paintings are incredible, but I feel like not a lot of people process how long ago 40, 000 years was. That is an absurd amount of time. Written language was only developed 5000 years ago, and most of the old testament was from around then as well. You almost cant comprehend how ancient these paintings are. Seeing these gorgeous drawings of animals that are so familiar to us today, stick figure humans that look identical to ones drawn now, its like a time machine hurling you back *40, 000* years into the past. Chillingly beautiful.

[Mzwambedu]

Meanwhile in modern-day

"Josh wuz here"

"Kelly & Tim forever"

[syednaiyarhussain]

The negative handprint really fascinates me! Someone tried to tell, "Don't forget me! I was here. I was alive."

[davidlape]

This is so beautiful and wonderous. Just imagine being present when our ancestors did this. Just amazing.

[JoeyArmstrong]

Their artistic choices blow me away. Very perceptive.

[marciocampos]

I love how we give importance to that. I mean, they were written thousands of years ago... and today here we are, trying to solve the puzzle left by our ascendents... The enigma is so inspiring! Guess that we need to know them, before try to understand what they have done.

[yohanessalka]

People who draw this are really good. The software they use is windows 0.5 paint.

[Vyansya]

These drawings doesnt look primitive at all. Im surprised how good some of these looks... When you mention they benefit from the surface curvature to enhance their subject feature, that makes me blown away for some reason. I underestimate them, i didnt expect that level of artistry and intelligence. Amazing.

[Chris-pvzw]

Even people 1000s of years ago can draw better than me

[ancientbuilds]

There is a beauty of expression in there that can never be matched.

[Unclerogershort]

Wow can’t believe how talented our ancestors could be so proud of them!❤❤😊😊

[NewMessage]

And when I do that on the walls, I get sent to bed without dessert. Sheesh.

[SamSinha]

Last year, I was reading a paper on a relatively unknown prehistoric rock-painting site in India. It was..like...super obscure. So, I went on an adventure and actually found it. It was just...magnificent. I asked locals about the place. No one could tell me the direction. So, it was kind of an exploration. I had to climb a small cliff to find it out. Unfortunately, there were no boards or anything.

We should start to care about our heritage.

[mariinwonderland]

They were early animations. Movie prototypes used with flickering light sources such as oil lamps. Their purpose becomes an enigma because of modern electric lights.

[peterwilliams]

It's human nature to document the world around us from early human cave paintings to high definition footage.

[madfisher]

There doesn't have to be a 'reason' behind art. It's just art. It's human creativity. It doesn't need a reason 😃🎨🖌️🗿

[AV-yjsf]

I remember visiting Altamira in northern Spain 20 years ago, simply put, astonishing

[emil.jansson]

This feels so enormous to me, these people 1000nds of years ago litterly toutched time itself in some sens.

[Hadsatriani]

Dec, 4/2022 i just got back from this place in Lascaux
Place is so cool and our guide was really good! ❤️🇨🇦

[TheNoblot]

the missing link: ART: The reflection: FROM image to mind. To concepts to thoughts. to reason & unreason questions, and progress.