2.5: Conclusion and Contrast

About 40,000 years ago, indigenous people roamed the planet, living on six different continents and drawing on caves' walls. People decorated their caves' walls for multiple purposes, including communication with others about the animals available for hunting or leaving a message about dangers, or for spiritual meanings. Some of the caves have well-developed images, and in other shelters, the images are more primitive, but all of them display the inhabitant's desire to create. Although geographically scattered around the world, people used similar materials and symbols in their caves, even using their hands as a template to spray pigment around them and leave a record of themselves.

The cave drawings across the world have many similarities, like color, pigment, charcoal, and rock walls. However, there are still several regional differences, as well. Some drawings are more childlike and primitive, and some drawings, such as the fish from the Kakadu, Australia, show great detail, fish with a backbone, fins, and embellishments not usually seen in cave art. The fine lines are delicate and different colors used to define the skeleton of the fish. The caves' art reflected their daily life, ensuring success in hunting, paranormal, religious, or educational stories.

To think of cave art is to imagine a hostile world where people hunt for food, escape from wild animals, seek shelter in caves, and survive as best as possible. Nevertheless, they had time for art, time to make the art materials, and time to improve and perfect their craft. Putting together a few dots on the walls has turned cave art into a line of several hundred thousand art pieces, recently rediscovered so today we can appreciate the art. Unfortunately, cave art cannot be seen in person today because our presence destroys the atmosphere in the caves. Most caves are not open to the public, but many countries have created authentic reproductions for visitors to explore and enjoy the wonders of art from our prehistoric ancestors.

Caves Around the World

Place	Name	Years	Pictures	Materials
Namibia, Africa	Apollo 11	27,500 – 25,500	Red & white paintings, geometric patterns, bees, animals	Charcoal, ochre, kaolin
France, Europe	Chauvet Cave	32,000 – 30,000	13 species of animals, lions, panthers, bears, hyenas, hand prints, scenes	Red ochre, charcoal
France, Europe	Lascaux Caves		2,000 figures, animals, human figures, abstract signs, large animals	Mineral pigments
DeCabrerets, France	Pech-Merle Cave	25,000	Polychrome painting of Dappled/Spotted Horses, hand stencils, abstract signs, dots and circles, engravings	Black manganese oxide, red ochre
Spain, Europe	El Castillo	40,800	Deer, bison, ibex, cows, handprints, red discs	Red iron oxide
Verona, Italy	Fumane Cave	35,000	Animals, abstract signs, unusual figures	Hematite, titanium, red & yellow ochre
Romania, Europe	Coliboaia Cave	32,000 – 30,000	Animals, bison, bears, rhinos	Charcoal
India	Pachmari	9,000 – 3,000	Animals, humans, scenes	Hematite, iron oxide, kaolin
Indonesia	Sulawesi	35,000	Animals, hand prints	Ochre, ironstone, hematite
China	Damaidi Caves	8,000 – 7,000	Chinese characters, people hunting, herding, fighting, sun, moon, animals, scenes	Carving, iron ore ochre
Northern Territory, Australia	Nawaria Gabarnmang Rock Shelf	26,000	Collage of mural paintings with human and spiritual figures, crocodiles, kangaroos, wallabies	Charcoal, ochre of mulberry, red, orange, white, colors
Kakadu, Australia	Kakadu Rock	20,000	Scenes, animals, ceremonials, people	Hematite, Limonite, ochre, Kaolin, manganese oxide, charcoal
RioPinturas, Argentina	Cueva de las Manos	13,000 – 9,500	Hand outlines, animals, hunting scenes	Iron oxides, kaolin, natrojarosite, manganese oxide

1. What were the main types of materials used to draw images?

2. What are the three major colors used in cave art and why were those colors predominant?

3. What similarities are found in cave art around the world?

4. What are some of the differences discovered in cave art in different locations?