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paleolithic artworks
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paleolithic artworks
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Cosquer Cave
In 1985, while scuba diving in Cape Morgiou, near Marseilles, France, Henri Cosquer discovered a narrow 175-meter, air-filled tunnel 37 meters below the sea (“The Cosquer Cave”). The tunnel, unbeknownst to him, lead to one of the world’s most treasured Paleolithic art-filled caves.
During the Paleolithic age, Cosquer cave was much more accessible than it is today. Researchers say that at the times the art was created, the cave was probably only 11 kilometers from the coast and 80 meters above sea level (Jaobs). Since then, the giant glaciers of the period have melted and the Mediterranean Sea has risen, preserving this magnificent display of ancient art.
Oblivious to the historical importance of his find, Cosquer kept the cave secret until a return visit in July of 1991 when he sighted what seemed to be a red, stenciled human hand painted on the side of the cave (Clottes 14). Excited by this discovery, Cosquer invited several fellow divers including Yann Gogan, Jean-Claude Cayol, Pascal Oriol, Cendrine Cosquer, and Thierry Pélissier to further examine the cave with him (Clottes 14). The hand, as it turned out, was only the first of approximately 142 ancient paintings and engravings that appear on the walls and ceilings of Cosquer cave (“Accessing Cosquer Cave”).
The cave consists of several narrow tunnels, some of which are less than one meter high, and two main chambers that are covered with calcite crystals (Clottes 48). Throughout the cave are finger grooves, which the artists were able to carve into the weather-softened stone walls (Clottes 59).
After recording proof of the discovery, Henri Cosquer informed the French Ministry of Culture. They assigned Jean Clottes and Jean Courtin to study the cave for further research.
In the last nine years scientists and archaeologists have performed approximately two dozen radiocarbon datings (Jaobs). This makes Cosquer the most extensively dated cave in the world (“Accessing Cosquer Cave”).
Through these thorough studies, researchers have discovered that the images were created during two separate phases. The first phase dates around –27,000, and includes the handprints and some geometric designs that were found (Duckeck). After that, there is an 8000 year gap in which no one seems to have used the cave (Jaobs). The second phase is between -19,000 and –18,000. It was in this phase that the animal images were created (Duckeck).
Of the images depicted in the cave, over two-thirds are engraved and most are of horses (Duckeck).
Archaeology is a continuously evolving field where there is a constant stream of new branches and excavation methods. Due to the influx of new technologies and innovations in recent decades, archaeologists have been able to excavate previously inaccessible areas. For example, new diving equipment and tools such as proton magnetometers, side-scan sonar, sub-bottom profiler, and miniature submarines have allowed archaeologists to dive into the deep depths of the ocean. As a result, the branch of underwater archaeology was created to search for shipwrecks and other artifacts on the ocean floor. Underwater archaeology’s role has increased in recent years as it allows archaeologists to more accurately interpret the past by supplementing information gained through traditional land excavations.
Kurian, George Thomas, ed. "Mexico: Economy." World Geography and Culture Online. Facts On File, Inc. Web. 13 May 2014. .
Four warships of America’s East Asia Squadron anchored at Uraga, in the predawn hours of July 14, 1853. This is twenty-seven miles south of Japanese capital, also known as Edo (renamed Tokyo in 1868). A prominent scholar had recently warned of people who came from the earth’s “hindmost regions” were “incapable of doing good things,” to Japan. The recent Mexican Spanish-American War, Americans has sharpened his desire for taking advantage of his wealth and power for political and commercial benefit. For al...
The U.S’s intervention with other countries became more popular during the 20th century.United States was believed to be an imperialistic country only wanting a gain a political gateway to devour the world in its ideologies and also government onto other countries and nothing more, but there was an exception to the U.S with the Dominican republic in the early 1960’s where the American government wanted to stop the spread of communism to more latino countries. Lyndon B Johnson address the matter before sending troops towards the south by using the following quote “As evidence he provided American reporters with lists of 6 suspected communist in that nation” - (History.com) This can inform the reader’s audience that America had spies in the D.R that were able to inform them with prior information that would benefit the future independent nation also that the Americans were suspicious of the country ...
In the early 1800’s, Japan had blocked off all trade from other countries. Foreign whaling ships could not even reload or repair their ships in Japan territory. This offended many other countries. In 1852, Matthew Perry was sent to Japan to negotiate open trade. Japan felt threatened by the United States, and gave in to their demands. Japan was frightened by their stipulations, and immediately began to reform. They developed a new education system that was similar to America and Europe’s. They also developed a Western style judiciary system.
In 1991, a diver by the name of Henri Cosquer from Cassis discovered the cave that is now named for him. His discovery was so extraordinary and unexpected that some scientists believed it to be a deception or very probably a farce. But soon after his discovery scientists using modern procedures performed datings that confirmed Cosquer’s discovery. Henri Cosquer had discovered and important archeological site!
Not too far away from the town of Montignac, in the western Massif Central and Northern Pyrenees, the cave of Lascaux was discovered. Four teenage boys and their dog discovered it. The four boys, Marcel Ravidat, Jacques Marsal, Georges Agnel and Simon Coenccus, were out on an expedition, but they found more than they bargained for that day. Their dog wandered away and they searched for him. In the process, the four boys discovered a cave that had been right below their feet for the past 17,000 years. They were not able to venture down into the 250-meter deep cave on the first day so they came back the next day prepared to enter the cave. When the boys first wiggled their way down into the cave they did not find anything. It was not until they reached an oval room that they first discovered paintings on the walls. These boys had uncovered paintings dating back to the Aurignacian (30,000-18,000 B.C.E.) (Laming, 34-41) and Magdalenian (15,000-10,000 B.C.E.) periods. It is believed that many of the paintings found in Lascaux were created between 16,000 and 14,000 B.C.E. The boys could no longer keep this cave a secret, so they told one of their teachers, Monsieur Laval. After accompanying the boys down to the cave, M. Laval started alerting historians to this new discovery. Within five days three historians were already on their way to visit the site. On September 17, 1940 three experts on Paleolithic art, Abbé Breuil, Dr. Cheynier and Abbé Bouyssonnie, crawled down into the cave; it was at this point the cave became authenticated.
Lying 125 feet below sea level, an historic treasure hid unseen to humans for thousands of years. Prehistoric humans first left their mark there nearly 27,000 years ago, but it was not until 1985 that modern humans discovered these treasures. This ancient landmark is now known as Cosquer Cave. It is a unique cave not only for the images found there, but also because of its unusual entrance.
Cave Paintings have been dated back 30,000 years ago, during a time called the Upper Paleolithic Period where homo-sapiens began to express themselves through rock art and drawings on the walls throughout caves in mostly France and Africa. The process of the art being made was resulted from rocks being ground up to make pigments which were often first engraved into the cave walls or painted directly on them in black and ochre colors. There is no absolute reason behind these cave paintings, but scientist have thought of theories behind the talented artists work. The main three categories that have been studied are animal drawings, shamanism, and human paintings; all of which give reason to a new evolution of the human mind and how the meaning behind the cave art can be an insightful look at what homo-sapiens experienced thousands of years ago.
Clottes, Jean. “Paleolithic Cave Art in France.” Bradshaw Foundation. Bradshaw Foundation. n.d. Web. 08 Mar. 2014.
Why are only animals shown? Well, animals were an inextricable part of daily life—they were hunted and eaten, they were seen every day. Animals were both scenery and characters in the story of these artist’s
London, Jack. "To Build a Fire, by Jack London." The World of Jack London 2012®. Web. 02
The Chauvet Cave Paintings: The Oldest Known Cave Art on Earth. Anthropology and History. April 15th 2011.
The documentary, Cave of Forgotten Dreams by Werner Herzog starts with one of the biggest discoveries in history. Starting with, three explorers who traveled to Southern France in 1994. They were looking out for drafts of air around rocks, hoping that the air would lead them to caves. As they explored and searched they discovered rocks in their narrow journey that led them to make one of the biggest discoveries in human history, a cave. First, not knowing what the cave was, after further searching they came to discover art paintings, hand prints/bones and stories that were left behind by what they believe to be from the Paleolithic Era. The Chavet Cave, named after one of the discoverers, contained art paintings that were the oldest ever in all of history. Now, scientists will enter the cave with strict directions of shutting the door shut, for climate conditions in the cave, using certain lighting, and staying on the two feet walkway created.
The Lascaux caves were discovered during World War II in a German-occupied section of France on September 12, 1940 (Cannon, 2006). Three local adolescents and two refugees of war were wandering through a field when they heard a dark barking. The dog fell into a small hole near the base of a tree. One of the Adolescents, a boy by the name of Ravidat, went in to save the dog and fell nearly twenty feet onto a sandy bottom. Ravidat and his companions stumbled across what is now known as Lascaux, named after a Chateau that resided on the property. What Ravidat was not aware of at the time, but the cave he stumbled