On September 12, 1940, four boys were examining a fox hole which their dog had fallen into on the hill of Lescaux in Southwestern France. After widening the hole they slide down to the bottom. After constructing a makeshift lamp to light their way they saw amazing paintings of animals on the walls. The following day they came back prepared to explore the cave further and were in awe of what they found. They told their teacher and the process of excavating the cave was set in motion.
In 1948 the cave was open to the public and are closed to the public now in order to protect the artwork that is 20,000 years old.
The deeper parts of the caves were lit with sandstone lamps that used animal fat as fuel, as well as by fire pits. The artists worked in smoky conditions using minerals as pigments for their images. Red was from hematite- red clay and red iron ochre. Yellow from oxyhydroxides and black from charcoal or manganese oxides. These were prepared by grinding and applied by fingers or blowing and brushes make from moss hair.
Video – 4:32
Let’s talk and discuss…..
- What would you think if you discovered Prehistoric Caves ?
- Do you think these animals are similar to ones that you are familiar with today ?