Assignment:

Message no. 5: posted by Deborah Vess (IDST_2310) on Sat Aug 19, 2000 18:01 Subject Assignment: Analyzing Cave Art You are a world famous historian in the 1940s, and have always liked to explore the deepest, darkest regions of the earth. As a child you loved to explore caves and so, after the discovery of Lascaux, you rush to the site and immediately begin your exploration.

As you journey through the cave, you record your experiences -- what you see and how you interpret those sights. Remember, you are an historian and highly trained in the analysis of written records. You attempt to apply these analytical techniques to the art in the cave as you try to determine what the purpose of the art was, who made it and how, and what its meaning is. Please share that journal with your colleagues below, explaining to them in what ways the visual, archaeological, and anthropoligical evidence you have gleaned may be interpreted as a "primary source" and as a guide to the past. What things remain unknown to you after your journey? Which of your conclusions are less certain than others and why?

Student postings:

Message no. 217: [Branch from no. 5] posted by student 18 on Tue Sep 12, 2000 15:37 Subject re: Assignment: Analyzing Cave Art

As a historian I am excited about the discovery of Lausceax. As I pack my bags I ponder the many questions that will be answered when i visit the cave as I have so many because i have heard much about the cave and its unique paintings. When I arrive at the sight I must duck because the passage to the cave is so small. I suppose the people who painted these paintings were small and petite in stature. As I walk up on the paintings I see the animals maybe an antelope, or a horse come at me in a three dimensional shape. As I sit there and look at the paintings made of earth tones I cant even begin to imagine what kind of intelligence and artistic talent these people had. I believe that the paintings have been there for a while and as i study the paintings I saw that the paintings had been stuck on the wall with what seemed to be human spit. After a couple of hours of studying the paintings i came to the conclusion that the people who painted this masterpiece did not plan for anyone to see these paintings because of their location, but they were found and I am glad I had the privilege and opportunity to admire this work of art.

Message no. 223: [Branch from no. 5] posted by student 13 on Tue Sep 12, 2000 19:24 Subject re: Assignment: Analyzing Cave Art 9-12-1943

Hi! I can't believe it. I am actually on my way to the Lascaux in France. What an opportunity and an experience this is going to be. I'm too excited to write. I'll write more later! 9-14-1943 Well, I made it. I am writing this as I proceed into the cave. It is quite difficult because there is no light. I'm holding a latern and trying to crouch into the low places. Ah, here we are. I am standing in the middle of this dome-like area. All around me are drawings. They are enormous! And so lifelike. I am moving closer to a wall to touch the drawings. The drawings are of many animals. The animals are either dead or being killed. Hunting must have been an important part of these peoples' lives. Alright, I just touched the wall. It feels rough. There are bumps and creases all over, but they are emphasizing the animals' features. The colors used are magnificent! They are earth tones that suit the drawings perfect. The colors could have been made from dyes or maybe even something like crushed tree leaves. But why would they draw in this particular place? 9-15-1940 I have been thinking about the Lascaux and about why the drawings were there. I have decided that it is for some religious reason. Maybe the people looked toward gods for help. If they drew animals being killed, then maybe the gods would help and bring animals to them to kill. I'm not sure who would have made these drawings- indians of some sort? Definitely some kind of tribe. This could perhaps be our world's first written history. These drawings are helping us to see the past and what it was like to live in this time period. It is the "primary source" (really the only source) we have to see to the past. Although I have interpreted most of the wonders about Lascaux, there are still some I am unsure of. How did the painters paint in the dark? If they used light (fire), then how did they keep it from going out?

Message no. 229: [Branch from no. 5] posted by student 4 on Tue Sep 12, 2000 22:25 Subject re: Assignment: Analyzing Cave Art

~It has been an amazing journey; traveling to Lascaux to see these monumental works of art. Ah, but I forget myself. Perhaps I should first tell how i came to be here. I remember how I was called in specifically to peruse the caves at Lascaux for the most wonderful thing was discovered! Ancient paintings, deep within the bowels of the Earth! My excitement overwhelms me; who knew that there was life intelligent and sophistocated enough to create such works of wonder?! ~As I travel down the tiny passages toward the chambers holding the paintings, I just have to wonder, how did these people fit through? Now only that but how in the world did these dwarfish people (for that is what they must have been to acomplish this; people far smaller than the average person is now) see what they were doing? There is obviously not enough space in here for two people to stand together, let alone one. Therefore, I conclude that either one person went down before the other, holding some sort of homemade torch to light the walls, or some extremely dextrous and dainty person held a torch by him or herself, drawing as they went. ~Yet another thought comes to mind as I ponder the wonders that I behold. What did they use to paint these pictures and how does it stay up on the walls. It must be some sort of sticky substance that holds the paint upon the walls. I concur that the paint itself is made out of natural materials such as dirt, clay or leaves, to get such a rich, earthy color. ~I must conclude that whoever has painted these scenes knew well what they were doing. I believe the reason that the characters are overlapping is that the picture was built upon. This was not something done in one sitting. images of antelope, horses, bulls and other similar creatures are painted over and next to each other, all of different sizes. They possibly hae some ritual significance, perhaps signifying the groups wish for a successful hunt or thanks to the animals that sacrificed their lives that they may live. definitely a civilization worthy of praise.

Message no. 234: [Branch from no. 5] posted by student 3 on Tue Sep 12, 2000 23:45 Subject re: Assignment: Analyzing Cave Art

I have been called upon to analyze a new find. Cave art has been found and I will attempt to uncover the origin and meaning. It is cold and misty out. I slide myself down into the bowels of this dark hole equipped only with pen and journal, my Welch coal-miners lamp from my childhood, and a rope for safe measure. As I enter the chamber, I smell the air. It's very musty smelling. I wonder if I am one of the first humans to see this work since its creation. What were the people thinking that painted this? My intuition tells me that it was a reflection of their natural surroundings. By the sheer number of animals I see, I would say that it was a homage to those that fed and substained them. There is an obvious lack of humans represented. The animals seem to jump out at you. They have been painted with the contour of the rocks. The horned bison-looking creature seems to move with the flicker of my lamp. Creepy. I am guessing that Cro Magnon man made these paintings by the technique and subject matter. It looks as if charcoal was applied to a stick and rubbed into the rock. I can't figure out what they used as a fixer though. Quite advanced for such early beings. I will have to take a small sample of an inconspicuous spot to test back in the lab. I have a lot of questions - the ideas I have must be backed by historical records and scientific analysis.

Message no. 238: [Branch from no. 5] posted by student 19 on Wed Sep 13, 2000 20:28 Subject re: Assignment: Analyzing Cave Art

Friends and esteemed colleagues, I now share with you my account of the cave art of Lascaux. I was led by a local to the mouth of the cave and warned of the tretcherous journey that lie ahead of me. I clenched my lantern tightly as I let myself become engulfed in the darkness of Lascaux. My lantern was the only source of light. I could feel the stone walls closing in on me as my pathway grew smaller, finally I resorted to crawling. Suddenly my lantern's light grew as I realized that I ws now in the chamber of the cave. I glanced around, the fire of my lantern shedding a flickering glow onto the cave walls. I stared in amazement at the herd of animals painted on the walls around me. With three dimensional features,it almost appreared that the animals could have run off of that stone and trampled me. As an expert in the analysis of written record, naturally I see this as such. I view the documentation illastrated in front of me. Maybe these ancient artists were offering their art to the gods. Maybe it was a process of self-expression. Or, maybe they were simply documenting the kills they had made in the day's hunts. No on can know for sure the true meaning of these magnificant artworks. We can only speculate. However, I'm sure that whatever they were for that they served the men well. ~lori johnson~

Message no. 239: [Branch from no. 5] posted by student 5 on Wed Sep 13, 2000 20:53 Subject re: Assignment: Analyzing Cave Art

It is the eve of June 16, 1954 and I am retiring from a long exploration in the Lascaux cave. The Lascaux cave is the site of the Cro-Magnon's cave paintings. I was so amazed at the art that were on the cave's walls. At the first wall, which was on the right side of the cave, there was this large painting of a deer and an antelope. The pictures were approximately 10-12 feet in height. The deer and the antelope looked as if they were fleeing from someone or something. Their colors were very natural. What I mean is that their colors were the colors you would see on them today. The Cro-Magnons used a lot of earth tone colors. On the second wall, which was the left side, there was this structure emerging from the wall of a woman. I didn't know what to think of this woman. All of her womanly features were enlarged. My first thought was that these were how these people looked in the ancient times. But I don't think that is the answer. After coming from the cave, I began analyzing what I thought these paintings meant. The picture of the deer and antelope I kind of figured what the whole concept of the picture was automatically. I remember reading, when I was a teen, that the ancient people were mostly nomadic and lived from the earth. These pictures could be their way of thanking nature for giving them these animals for food, clothing, and shelter. Then another thought came to mind. What if they were keeping a record of what they killed whenever they did hunt. The picture of the woman I had a little trouble analyzing. I take it that it had something to do with nature. So began to think real hard. I then thought that picture reminded me of my mother in someway. When she carried my sister, her womanly features were enlarged. So then I realized that the Cro-Magnons thought that the ideal woman was on who was able to have children. Eventhough I might have tried to analyze the paintings, how they got the paintings on the wall and how they managed to stay there for these number of years is beyond me. I know for a fact that they used charcoal to draw the picture. I also know that they probably used a nail and a piece of stone to sculpt the woman. What I don't know is what they used for paint. The paintings are so pretty and I can't see how they applied the so-called paint. The main thing that remains unknown to me is what they used for paint and how they applied it. My theory on how they got the woman on the wall is still a mystery to me.

Message no. 248: [Branch from no. 239] posted by student 1 on Thu Sep 14, 2000 17:03 Subject re: Assignment: Analyzing Cave Art

When my team and I arrived at the cave in Lascaux, France we were more than eager to enter the cave. Once we penetrated the tight and narrow opening of the cave we realized how scarce our light would actually. We turned on a few flashlights and continued our descent into the great unknown. We preceded into what appeared to be a large cavern, the only sound coming from the anxious pants of my team who had patiently waited to see before our very eyes, what we had only read and looked at in books or television. When we fired up our lanterns we were amazed by what we saw: huge, primitive paintings of large beasts,it seemed, on every inch of the cavern. I know I wasn't the only member of the team who was almost completely breathless from the look of these magnificent creations. The images of the antelope, deer and bulls appeared to have been painted to where they looked 3-dimensional, I was almost too afraid to get close, fearing one of these primitive beasts would jump out from the cave wall and attack! After regaining my breath, my team and I took just a few samples from the paintings because so many of them have been damaged from modern human exploration. We were trying to figure out what these ancient artisits had used to keep the pigmnet to stick to the wall. After gathering our samples we spelunked our way back to the top and returned to base camp. In the lab, the scientists on the team looked over the samples, ran tests and concluded from their data that the pigment was held together by nothing more than human spit. After rewarding ourselves with a nice,big meal and a few drinks, we got some much needed rest. The next day, we arose early, headed for the airport and jetted home to tell the world about our marvelous discovery.

Message no. 240: [Branch from no. 5] posted by student 21 on Wed Sep 13, 2000 21:01 Subject re: Assignment: Analyzing Cave Art

Wow!!!Of all people, I have been chosen to go and explore the wonderful Cave of Lascaux... As I arrived at the cave and started my way into the passage way to go to the chamber where the cave art was found...many thoughts were running through my head...First, how did these people fit in this passage way???They had to be really small and really skinny...because I had trouble getting down through there...but, I did manage to get my big belly to the chamber...Also, how in the world could these people paint in such a small and dark place???My only idea was that they had to paint with one hand and hold a torch of some kind with the other hand...Other questions that came to mind were what did the paintings represent???Why were the paintings painted in this location???How did they paint these pictures???What am I going to tell my mom when she sees how dirty my clothes are???and much more... The paintings on the wall were gigantic!!!They were so beautiful too...The animals (horses, deer, etc.) were so precise...even the shoulders and other body parts seemed to be like if the animals were going to jump out at me since the painters used the parts of the cave wall that stuck out to make the paintings seem 3-D...The earthtone colors helped out too... As I was leaving the cave...a few more questions and answers came to me...What were the animals painted for???My guess is that it is a log for the animals that were killed for food, clothing, and more...Why were the animals painted over other animals???What was used to get the color to stick to the wall???Why was the paintings painted in such a location???What are my parents cooking for dinner???The only other answer that I could guess is that the paintings were not for viewing pleasure.

Message no. 243: [Branch from no. 5] posted by student 30 on Thu Sep 14, 2000 10:16 Subject re: Assignment: Analyzing Cave Art

WOW!! That is all I can say after I took my first look at the animals drawn on the dark cave walls at Lascaux. I have waited all of my life to see a history expressed through pictures in front of my eyes. The running animals must represent the hunt that these people must have had to go through. I can see it as a hunt both physically and spiritually. The large animals drawn on the cave walls represent the hardships and difficulties of the time. WOW!! That is all that is going through my head. The emphasis on the animals must mean that they believed nature to be divine and above them. The Cro Magnon people must have made these beautiful drawings deep within the Earth. It looks as though they used their own spit and charcoal to do these wonderful pieces of art. Their spit allowed the charcoal to stick to the rough cave walls. There is nothing that can beat this. I am having a first hand experience looking at the most wonderful paintings in the world. They date back 35000 to 10000 years ago!! Now thats old!!! This makes it a primary source. Since I am looking at something that the Cro Magnon people actually made, that makes it a primary source. Still I am confused on why they decided to draw their paintings down deep in the earth where no one is able to see them. And also I am confused on how such a primitive culture could make something so beautiful. There will always be many questions that only the Cro Magnon people know. I still can just say one word to describe this wonderful art, WOW!!!

Message no. 245: [Branch from no. 5] posted by student 28 on Thu Sep 14, 2000 12:45 Subject re: Assignment: Analyzing Cave Art

First Archeological report, Lascaux sites France, this is Dr. Jones. The rumor and the story from the two little boys seem to be true. I hastened my way down here to France to explore this report of a cave with great cave art and paintings. The passage to get in here was everything but easy to enter. I have several cuts and bruises due to the narrow and tight passages I had to crawl through. I have reached one of the main chambers it seemes, and the siting is as promising as the rumor fortold. There are paintings all over the walls showing animals and hunt scenes. I can see horses, buffalos, and antiloopes among others. This is definetly from the Cro Magnon era. They use the bumps and cracks of the cave to create three dimensional imagery and deepth, truly remarkable. I can't understand how the paint has stayed intact all these milleniums ? I see earth colors of black, ocra, and umbra. Totally amazing array of animals. Some of the animals are painted on each other, why ? This must have been a holy and sacred place for the people living here. This definetly needs further investigation and exploring. I am preparing a telegram cable to the University back home to finance a expedition. They should grant me funding this time. We have a winner here.

Message no. 246: [Branch from no. 5] posted by student 6 on Thu Sep 14, 2000 15:33 Subject re: Assignment: Analyzing Cave Art

I was very excited to learn that I had been selected to be one of the few historians allowed deep within the earth to explore the Lascaux caves in France. I hope that by studing the painting I can learn more about these ancient people. I hope I can understand how and why they painted these animals 17,000 years ago... As we traveled deeper into the earth, excitement swept over me as darkness swallowed us. It took quite some time to get to the opening with all the painting because these people were much shorter and smaller than an average human today. I had to squeeze through tiny spaces while carrying my camera. It wasn't easy. I couldn't help but feel as though I was being put through some kind of test. Suddenly, we were there! Our light filled the room making the shadow dance and the beautiful painted animals seemed to come to life. They were everywhere- on the walls, the ceiling, wrapping around corners. I was surrounded by bulls, horses,and antelopes. It seemed as though they were all running, like during a hunt. Maybe these people came here to pray for a good hunt? Hunting way their only way of surivial and hunting these big animals was very dangerous. I could tell from the painting that they had great respect for these animals. And it seems that this place was very sacared. Maybe these place was here for some sort of trial or right of passage, where boys became men. Boys came down here innocent and afraid and left men. They face their fears, learn respect for the animals, and become hunters earning the respect of others in their community.

Message no. 247: [Branch from no. 5] posted by student 22 on Thu Sep 14, 2000 16:56 Subject re: Assignment: Analyzing Cave Art

As I enter the newly discovered Cave of Lascaux, located on the northern slope of the Pyrenees, I feel I great deal of excitement. As a child I plundered the caves and historical sites and now my dream of being a world famous archaeologist had come true. The small and discrete opening to the cave quickly revealed to me that this sight was notintended to be uncovered and that very petite people created this cave. There was barely enough room for my reporter and photographer to fit while qorking our way into the cave. The first passageway was about 15-20 yards long. Then I entered into a wider opening. At first glance, I was terrified!! There were bulls and other massive mammals crowding around me. I could barely see inside of the open area. When I began to shine my flashlight around the room I noticeed the enormity of every painting. Although I was quite overwhelmed by the scene I had to be professional. I took one wall and focused my attention on the way the paintings absorbed the texture and structure of the cave walls. The bumps in the walls helped to elaborate the massive size of an bulls shoulder bone or the cracks helped to invision the the slinderness of an animal. The type of paint used mesmerized me. How could an ancient civilization compose a paint that could last this long? They must have used natural dyes, dirt, charcoal, or some type of a sticky substance. The art looked splattered against the wall by the artist. The reason the massive animals were thee was still uncertain to me. Suddenly, my photographer informed me that at he was zooming on on the horse's body he noticed marks of some hard object striking it. I began to exam several different animals and found the same strike marks. The marks looked like spear marks that had seeb on cave walls in past explorations. Then I began to wonder if the animal paintings were targets for the people to practice on. Hunting was evidently an important part of their culture. When looking at the wall I noticed that there were different size animals that were layered on the wall. Below one horse you may see the edge of another antelope or deer. Evidently this was a way for the culture to keep track of their hunting expeditions. This is quite possibly the first and earliest known souce of recorded history. Although the art was animals and hunting I noticed that not one human was painted in the murals. I linked that to the fact that they may have seen the cave as a symbolic or religious place entended for people to come and worship and give thanks to animals. I linked the idea of humans not being painted in the cave to the small passageways and I assume that the Cave of Lascaux was a place that only a few people came to and it was considered quite sacred andbeautiful. The deep cave emphasized the fact that the drawings were not meant for display or attraction. The Cave of Lascaux has opened up the opportunity for the Cro-Magnum man to be explored even more. The unveiling of this record of history will open up the opportunity to their religion, trades, hunting, and individual mannerisms. Some things remain uncertain to me. I do not understand the position of this cave and its' hidden passages. I also still wonder about the layers of animals that were painted on the walls. Much of the information is so in depth that know one will truly understand this culture. The Cave of Lascaux was one explorationin my lfe that I "left the cave saying to myself "If walls could only talk".

Message no. 365: [Branch from no. 5] posted by student 32 on Sat Dec 02, 2000 19:49 Subject re: Assignment: Analyzing Cave Art

I entered the cave and is totaly baffled by the size of the cave and pondered how any normal size human being fit through this samall entrance , i mean am not exactly Andre the giant but it still was a mini me fit. After stuggling my way in the main chamber another strange though hit me after seeing the painting on the wall: how can any one paint in this total darkenss i mean our electrical torches were bearly enought to light the room up so who the did it?,and why would did they do it?. After examing the giant painting on wall painting i noticed it was paintings of animals, and thes weren't stick figures either, they were very close to the painting styles of many of todays popular artist. These life size painting going around the main chamber gived a 3-D effect of the animals..I would gust that these paintings were probaly not work of artist for viewing pleasure but for representing the amount of animals killed and how much remaing for food and for clothings. As i am leaving the cave another qustion pop into my head how did they get this art on the wall to stick?. I then concluded that i needed to watch a little more discovery channel and i might have answered alot more of my own question.

Message no. 209: posted by student 23 on Mon Sep 11, 2000 19:20 Subject Cave art

As I heard the news of the discovery of the caves in Lascaux my adreneline began to flow though my veins. I began to wonder was early man like how did they commuicate, did they record their history for the next generation, and if they did what did it look like. So I have decided to journey there and discover for myself what the were like. As i enter the cave I could feel the cold and musty ground below my feet. This was familiar and I began to feel very mush at ease. As i searched the cave I saw painting depicting this early mans way of life. I could see that he was a hunter-gather and that he depended on his wits to get through to the next day. I also notice the use of tools by these early men. Must of his tools had multiple purposes. I believe that these paintings were a way of communicating with later generations or for story telling after challenging or exciting hunt. These early men also had some burial practices because a body was found buried in the cave. i precieve that cared for those who died and wanted to keep them close. By the end of my trip I have realized that early man was not much different for modern man. He looked for some form of control in his life and some form of expression. This expression was in the form of art on the cave walls. it is the rawest form of self expression and also telling about your history.

Message no. 219: posted by student 2 on Tue Sep 12, 2000 16:23 Subject Jessica Ross

Upon hearing of the discovery of Lascaux, I immediately packed my bags and was on my way. The journey into the cave was fabulous but difficult. These people must have been absolutely tiny for the passageway is about one and a half feet wide! Finally I reached the bowels and found the most beautiful sight I have ever seen. The walls all around me running and circling with wild energy. Animals jetting out of the walls and running wildly, perhaps from the hunt. Who could have made such beautiful work? Due to the location, it could not have been meant for anyone's viewing pleasure. The layered art work would leave me to believe that possibly this is a record of the kill. This is the shrine to these beasts which provided so many of their needs. I wondered how they got the pigment to stay on the wall. Then I spotted it: a spray like pattern that could only be made by spitting. These people obviously had intelligence and were filled with emotion towards Mother Earth.

Message no. 221: posted by student 14 on Tue Sep 12, 2000 18:45 Subject Lascaux

Well, I am on my way to the newly discovered Lascaux, which is a cave, which must have been very sacred to the Cro Magnon culture in the prehistoric people. I am very excited about this opportunity. I will be one of the first historians to get to explore the cave. OK. I have just arrived at Lascaux, and it looks like the journey down into the cave is going to be rough because the openings down into the cave are extremely small. But that's great because I love exloring the deepest, darkest regions of the Earth. I can't wait to see what the paintings are going to be like down below because are already see a few interesting things up here. Wow. That was a tough journey, but it was well worth it. I feel like I am in a new world. Without the light source on my hat and the one that I am carrying, I couldn't even see my hand in front of my face. It is so dark! There is art work everywhere, mainly animals such as antelope and horses. Things just seem to jump out at me each time my light catches a new image. From the looks of things, it seems to me that this art work, although beautiful, was not intended for anyone else's viewing other than the Cro Magnon people. Images are painted on top of images, and from what I can tell, there are no people in the paintings--only animals. And these are big game animals at that. The only thing that I can reason is that this cave art must have been used for a record of the hunt, since hunting was the center of life for the Cro Magnon people. It was essential for their survival. I can also see spear marks surrounding some of the images, which says to me that they may have used them for a sort of target pratice. The style of the painting is quite interesting. The artists used the bumps, dips, and cracks in the rock wall to make the animals come to life. In many cases, the contour of the wall is used to bring out particular features on the animal. These images aren't small images either. Many of them are 10-12 feet in size. The colors used are Earthy tones along with some black so it is obvious that the art work was done with things such as coal that are taken from the Earth. There is just one thing that I am still confused about. How in the world did these artists get the pigments to stick to the walls? Dry pigment just does not stick to rock. Also, this artwork also suggests to me that the Cro Magnon loved nature and did not separate themselves from nature. They may have been paying tribute to nature for sustaining them, for without nature, they wouldn't have had anything. Another idea that has come to me is that the overlaying of images on each other may have been trying to express the chronology of events. These two things I am a little unsure of, but what I am sure of is that Lascaux must really have been a sacred place to the Cro Magnon. They really had to make a great effort to get down into this cave where the most elaborate work is found. I have enjoyed this journey and hope that some of my reasoning will open the door to the history of these great people and there unique form of expression.

Message no. 236: posted by student 17 on Wed Sep 13, 2000 00:46 Subject journal of a spelunker

The cave is dark and cold. But, luckily I have my trusty torch. I don't understand how these incredible paintings and drawings could have been done so long ago. It appears by the numerous animals painted on the walls that this could be some sort of counting system for each kill in hunting. It almost as if the assortment or deer, elk, and buffalo are real and running around the walls of the cave. After extensive study in this cave some questions still remain. I know the paintings were drawn with charcoal. But, what solvent did they use to make it stick to the walls? How could they have possibly seen what they were doing in the dark. And also why were those paintings hidden so far into the earth? Eric Everidge

Message no. 237: posted by student 10 on Wed Sep 13, 2000 18:14 Subject

Hey! I've been informed about a new finding. It's located in Lascaux, France. There is a cave there with art inside and being the historian I am was called to go explore it. I'll write again when I arrive at the site. Hey Again! I'm here at the cave in Lascaux and more excited than EVER! As I enter the cave I grab my journal, pen, and lantern. It's a dark deep hole down in the earth. It's small in size. As I slide my body through these nearly inecessible passageways, I approach some of this beautiful artwork I was told about. It's beautiful paintings on the walls of what seems to be antelopes, deer, horses, and bull-like animals. They seem to be almost 10-12 feet long and big in size. They appear to be 3-D because of the bumps and curves of the passageways which make the art look more realistic. While sitting here I begin to wonder who could've managed to paint this art work? It had to have been Cro-Magnon men because they were small and could've fit in here to do this. The animals are painted on top of other amimals. So I assume the reason inthis could be that these paintings resemble a record of something. Possibly their hunt or it could have served as a sacred place for religious rituals? The colors of these animals are earth tone colors. I conclude they possibly chewed charcoal, leaves, and dirt to create these colors and then spit this mixture onto the walls to make the paint stick to it and that's how they created this beautiful art. This is all I conclude right now at the moment. When I journey back up to the top in a while, I will write more. I'm back on Earth and out of the cave. I firmly believe the conclusions I have so far. This could very well be a guide to the past. It may be a way to understand more realistically Cro-Magnon height, culture, and religion. This cave may be a primary source to prove some other conclusions we've already made about them. However, I'm still wondering how they were able to see in the cave to paint these animals on the walls so beautifully. Did they journey down there together? Did they carry torches? This will require more research. I feel certain I've figured out who's painted this and how they created theie colors. But how they did it while it was so dark? I also would like to figure out for sure what this meant to them. I made two assumptions and they were guesses so that still ponders in my mind. When I return home, I'll begin researching Cro-Magnon inhopes to reveal the meaning of all this beautiful art within our Earth!!

Message no. 241: posted by student 15 on Thu Sep 14, 2000 09:09 Subject Gary Virden

As i walk into the top part of the cave I see many ancient drawings the are very miticulously painted. It's very dark in this top section but a torch works well. The drawings are magnificent I proceed to the bottom part of the cave down a narrow passage. The bottom is more beautiful than the top. I look at the different paintings for hours and wonder how long these people worked on these paintings, and what they meant.

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