Lascaux Cave

Definition

Lascaux Cave is a Palaeolithic cave situated in southwestern France, near the village of Montignac in the Dordogne region, which houses some of the most famous examples of prehistoric cave paintings. Close to 600 paintings – mostly of animals – dot the interior walls of the cave in impressive compositions. Horses are the most numerous, but deer, aurochs, ibex, bison, and even some felines can also be found. Besides these paintings, which represent most of the major images, there are also around 1,400 engravings of a similar order. The art, dated to c. 17,000 to c. 15,000 BCE, falls within the Upper Palaeolithic period and was created by the clearly skilled hands of humans living in the area at that time. The region seems to be a hotspot; many beautifully decorated caves have been discovered there. The exact meaning of the paintings at Lascaux or any of the other sites is still subject to discussion, but the prevailing view attaches a ritualistic or even spiritual component to them, hinting at the sophistication of their creators. Lascaux was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list in 1979, along with other prehistoric sites in its proximity.

More about: Lascaux Cave

Timeline

  • c. 2600000 BCE - c. 12000 BCE
    The Pleistocene epoch, ranging from c. 2,6 million years ago until c. 12,000 years ago. It is characterised by repeated cycles of glacials and interglacials.
  • c. 2600000 BCE - c. 12000 BCE
    The Palaeolithic (or Old Stone Age) period, ranging from c. 2,6 million years ago until c. 12,000 years ago.
  • c. 33000 BCE - c. 30000 BCE
    Age of the cave paintings in Chauvet Cave, France.
  • c. 20000 BCE
    Cave painting flourishes in Spain and France, the most famous being the Cave of Lascaux in France.
  • c. 17000 BCE - 15000 BCE
    Lascaux cave paintings.
  • c. 16000 BCE - c. 13000 BCE
    Lascaux Cave: Upper Paleolithic occupations.
  • 12 Sep 1940 CE
    Lascaux Cave is discovered.
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