- "In archaeology, cave paintings are a type of parietal art (which category also includes petroglyphs, or engravings), found on the wall or ceilings of caves."
Artistic depictions found in caves, created by early humans during the Paleolithic period.
Paleolithic era: This period of prehistory covers the earliest known cave paintings, as well as the cultural and technological developments of early humans.
Geographic distribution of cave paintings: Knowing the locations of the most significant cave painting sites worldwide can help to contextualize the different artistic styles and cultures that produced them.
Materials and techniques: Understanding the methods and materials prehistoric artists used for painting on cave walls, such as animal fat, charcoal, and natural pigments, is key to understanding their craft.
Iconography and symbolism: Cave paintings feature a range of different figures and motifs, from realistic animals and humans to abstract signs and patterns. Exploring the meanings behind these symbols can offer insight into prehistoric belief systems and cultural practices.
Cultural context and interpretation: In order to interpret and understand cave paintings, it's essential to consider the social and cultural contexts in which they were produced, including the possible spiritual, social or economic functions they may have served.
Preservation and conservation: Given their age and location, cave paintings are highly vulnerable to natural decay and human interference. It’s important to explore the steps being taken to preserve and protect these prehistoric treasures for future generations.
Artistic styles and their evolution over time: Looking at the development of cave painting styles (such as Lascaux, Altamira or Chauvet), and the techniques and materials used over time, can help to reveal how prehistoric art evolved and adapted in response to technological and cultural changes.
Interdisciplinary approaches to study: Many researchers approach the study of cave paintings from a range of fields, including anthropology, archaeology, art history, geology and more. Understanding these various disciplinary fields and methods can provide a more comprehensive understanding of prehistoric art and culture.
The role of technology in modern understanding and exploration of cave paintings: New technologies such as lidar, 3D reconstruction and digital scanning are now being used to reveal the hidden secrets of cave paintings, giving us new insights into the techniques and cultural significance of these ancient artworks.
Contemporary cultural practices, traditions and knowledge: Some indigenous communities have preserved traditional knowledge and uses of cave paintings, offering insight into the ongoing cultural significance of these ancient artworks today.
Animals: Depictions of animals such as horses, bison, deer, mammoths, and other creatures are perhaps the most common type of cave painting. These paintings are often highly detailed and realistic, and may have served a variety of purposes. Some researchers speculate that they were used for hunting magic, others for religious purposes or as a form of storytelling.
Handprints: Some cave paintings are simply handprints or stencils made by placing a hand against a wall and blowing pigment around it. These may have had symbolic or ritual significance, and were often found in groups.
Abstract designs: Many cave paintings consist of abstract shapes or patterns, such as dots, lines, spirals, and other geometric forms. The meaning of these designs is often unclear, but some researchers speculate that they may have served as symbols or as part of a language system.
Human figures: While less common than animal paintings, some Stone Age cave paintings depict human figures. These may be simple stick figures or more detailed representations of men and women. It is not always clear what these paintings meant or why they were made.
Hunting scenes: Some cave paintings depict hunting scenes, showing humans hunting animals with weapons such as spears or bows and arrows. These may have been used in hunting magic or to commemorate a successful hunt.
Mythological creatures: In some cases, cave paintings depict creatures that do not exist in the real world, such as centaurs, unicorns, or dragons. These may have had mythological or religious significance.
Weapons and tools: Some cave paintings depict weapons such as spears or knives, or tools such as axes or hammers. These may have served as instructional tools or to commemorate the invention of a new technology.
Landscapes: Finally, some cave paintings depict landscapes such as mountains, rivers, or forests. These may have served as a way to connect humans to the natural world, or to map out a particular place or territory.
- "The oldest known are more than 40,000 years old (art of the Upper Paleolithic) and found in the caves in the district of Maros (Sulawesi, Indonesia)."
- "The oldest are often constructed from hand stencils and simple geometric shapes."
- "More recently, in 2021, cave art of a pig found in Sulawesi, Indonesia, and dated to over 45,500 years ago, has been reported."
- "A 2018 study claimed an age of 64,000 years for the oldest examples of non-figurative cave art in the Iberian Peninsula."
- "These predate the appearance of modern humans in Europe by at least 20,000 years and thus must have been made by Neanderthals rather than modern humans."
- "In November 2018, scientists reported the discovery of the then-oldest known figurative art painting, over 40,000 (perhaps as old as 52,000) years old, of an unknown animal, in the cave of Lubang Jeriji Saléh on the Indonesian island of Borneo."
- "In December 2019, cave paintings portraying pig hunting within the Maros-Pangkep karst region in Sulawesi were discovered to be even older, with an estimated age of at least 43,900 years."
- "This remarkable finding was recognized as 'the oldest known depiction of storytelling and the earliest instance of figurative art in human history.'"
- "The term usually implies prehistoric origin, and the oldest known are more than 40,000 years old (art of the Upper Paleolithic) and found in the caves in the district of Maros (Sulawesi, Indonesia)."
- "In November 2018, scientists reported the discovery of the then-oldest known figurative art painting, over 40,000 (perhaps as old as 52,000) years old..."
- "Represented by three red non-figurative symbols found in the caves of Maltravieso, Ardales, and La Pasiega, Spain..."
- "These predate the appearance of modern humans in Europe by at least 20,000 years and thus must have been made by Neanderthals rather than modern humans."
- "In November 2018, scientists reported the discovery of the then-oldest known figurative art painting... of an unknown animal, in the cave of Lubang Jeriji Saléh on the Indonesian island of Borneo."
- "In December 2019, cave paintings portraying pig hunting within the Maros-Pangkep karst region in Sulawesi were discovered to be even older..."
- "In December 2019, cave paintings portraying pig hunting within the Maros-Pangkep karst region in Sulawesi were discovered to be even older, with an estimated age of at least 43,900 years."
- "The oldest are often constructed from hand stencils and simple geometric shapes."
- "Represented by three red non-figurative symbols found in the caves of Maltravieso, Ardales, and La Pasiega, Spain..."
- "This remarkable finding was recognized as 'the oldest known depiction of storytelling and the earliest instance of figurative art in human history.'"
- "More recently, in 2021, cave art of a pig found in Sulawesi, Indonesia, and dated to over 45,500 years ago, has been reported."