Cave Paintings Of The Cave Essay

Prehistoric art of caves in southern France and northern Spain have many common motifs. In both places, the main subjects are animals. The paintings are quite sophisticated, thus creatures depicted with great details: horns, tusks, eyes, faces, bodies are very well observed and painted. The Hall of Bulls in Lascaux Cave in France is a good example. Wall paintings include images of the cows, bisons, deers and horses. Animals features are emphasised and pronounced: deers have beautiful antlers, bisons’ faces and bodies look very realistic. Not only animal appearance but animal behavior is well observed. The ceiling of cave in Altamira, Spain has painting of dust-wallowing bisons, which is common behavior during the mating season. Paintings in
Scholars of early twentieth century believed in theory of social function of the images. Thus cave paintings could be a part of some sort of prehistoric ceremonies in order to strengthen the clan and increase the fertility of animals. This theory was further developed in the idea that caves were used as a place for worship and initiation rites (Abbe Henri Breul). However, this hypothesis were rejected in the late twenties century. New interpretation of the paintings is explained them as an educational tool to teach novice hunters about animals behavior (Steve Mitchen). The other theories include arguments that cave paintings were a product of rituals that might be performed to seek help of supernatural forces, or simply the process of creation was the main purpose. Even though, new evidence and discoveries are constantly changing established theories and producing new hypothesis, all scholars agree that prehistoric cave paintings had very significant and special meaning for people of that period because humans returned to them over hundred and thousand of