Located in France near the town of Montignac, are the Lascaux Caves. Filled with bountiful cave paintings dating back over 15,000 years ago, these caves were discovered unintentionally. While following their dog, four teenagers discovered these works of art after traveling down the narrow entrance leading into the caves (History.com). The Lascaux Caves have different sections based on the collections of artwork painted on the walls, including the
Hall of Bulls, the Chamber of Engravings, and the Shaft of the Dead Man. These paintings tell the stories of these ancient peoples lives and invites archaeologists into their culture.
Upon entering the caves, not far down the hallway is the Hall of Bulls. As listed in its title, the hallway is covered …show more content…
Some portions have small dashes of color, but majority of the work is completed in dark paint. It is believed that the “’master’ artists enlisted the help of assistants who mixed pigments and held animal fat lamps to illuminate the space” (KhanAcademy.org), which allowed these artists to see their pieces come to life.
Not much farther down the caves past the Chamber of Engravings, is the Shaft of the
Dead Man. Unlike the Hall of Bulls, this portion of the caves is filled with a painting of what looks to be a bison with a human figure in the front of it and a rhinoceros; this painting contains the only image of a human being in the whole cave. After many theories of what this painting could delineate, priest Henri Breuil came up with the interpretation that these images “hunted magic”. “The theory suggests that the prehistoric people who used the cave may have believed that a way to overpower their prey involved creating images of it during rituals designed to ensure a successful hunt” (KhanAcademy.org). During these ancient peoples lives, survival was entirely dependent on whether they had a successful hunting session or not, so this theory
Hall of Bulls, the Chamber of Engravings, and the Shaft of the Dead Man. These paintings tell the stories of these ancient peoples lives and invites archaeologists into their culture.
Upon entering the caves, not far down the hallway is the Hall of Bulls. As listed in its title, the hallway is covered …show more content…
Some portions have small dashes of color, but majority of the work is completed in dark paint. It is believed that the “’master’ artists enlisted the help of assistants who mixed pigments and held animal fat lamps to illuminate the space” (KhanAcademy.org), which allowed these artists to see their pieces come to life.
Not much farther down the caves past the Chamber of Engravings, is the Shaft of the
Dead Man. Unlike the Hall of Bulls, this portion of the caves is filled with a painting of what looks to be a bison with a human figure in the front of it and a rhinoceros; this painting contains the only image of a human being in the whole cave. After many theories of what this painting could delineate, priest Henri Breuil came up with the interpretation that these images “hunted magic”. “The theory suggests that the prehistoric people who used the cave may have believed that a way to overpower their prey involved creating images of it during rituals designed to ensure a successful hunt” (KhanAcademy.org). During these ancient peoples lives, survival was entirely dependent on whether they had a successful hunting session or not, so this theory