Cave Paintings
Docent: Who do you think painted these paintings?
Response: Indians
Chinese
Cavemen (correct response)
Docent: There is evidence from all over the world that
our prehistoric ancestors were artists. The
earliest examples were made between
40,000BC and 10,000BC.
About 2 million years ago man learned to make
tools from rocks and pebbles. About 1 million
years ago man learned to make his tools sharp
by chipping away at stones. This was also
about the time man learned to use fire.
125,000 years ago man was able to make a
variety of tools. 42,000 years ago man made
the first works of art.
This cave painting, which is about 17,000
years old, was discovered by accident in France
in 1940 when a dog fell into a hole in a
field and the children who were playing with
the dog followed it down into the hole and
found a cave that had been hidden for
thousands of years!
What animals do you see in these paintings?
Response: Bison Buffalo Deer
Horse Antelope Bull
Docent: What do you think the cavemen used these
animals for?
Response: Food
Clothing
Docent: When cavemen killed a large animal, his food
supply lasted longer and he had more skins to
use. So killing a large animal was much more
important than killing a smaller one. With
their primitive weapons, it was difficult to kill a large
animal.
Try to imagine cavemen out hunting a
large animal with only a sharp rock tied to a
long stick. How do you think he felt?
Response: Afraid Unsure Scared
Terrified Nervous
Docent: How did the cavemen get the courage he
needed to go on the hunt?
Response: They practiced
Docent: The cavemen practiced throwing his weapons
at the animals painted on the walls of the
cave. These particular paintings were found at
the very back of the cave. This leads
scientists to believe that they were used
for a very specific purpose. Do you see
the marks on the bull? Why are they
painted in that particular spot?
Response: Because that is the spot that the hunters
should aim at.
Docent: Look at the hooves and tail of the bull. They
are not as clearly drawn as the other parts of
the animal. Why do you think that is?
Response: Because they were not as important to the
cavemen. They were useless for either for
either food or clothing.
Docent: Did you notice the different colors in this
painting? About 20,000 years ago when this
was painted, cavemen could not go to the
store and buy paint. Where do you think they
got their paints?
Response: Berries Roots and leaves
Minerals and rocks Blood
Docent: What did they use to make the dark outlines?
Response: Charcoal
Docent: Where did they get the charcoal?
Response: From the remains of their fires.
Docent: The cavemen painted with their fingers, moss,
or brushes made from chewed up twigs, fur or
feathers. One way of filling in the large areas
was to blow powdered pigment (color) through
straws made of bone.
At one time after this cave was found, you
could have visited it to see the paintings, but
now, because the moisture and bacteria in the
air have caused the paintings to decay, the
cave has been sealed to preserve this link with
the past.
3rd Grade
Cave Paintings Project
Materials: Tempera paints in red, green, yellow, brown & blue, large sheets
of brown or gray paper, brushes, black crayons or charcoal, scratch paper
Divide the class into groups of 4 or 5. These groups are each a "clan" living in a
cave. Have them pretend they are a migrating clan that is moving on and they
must leave a historical imprint of their daily lives for the next clan who lives
there. Remind the class to think about what animals or symbols they might put
into their cave painting and why. Students should represent more than just the
hunt in their cave paintings. Have them try to represent different aspects of cave
life, e.g. cooking, making tools, sewing and weapons. Perhaps have them agree
on a clan symbol.
Remember cavepeople did not use backgrounds or landscapes in their
pictures.
OPTIONAL EXERCISE IN CONTOUR DRAWING
A contour is the shape or outline of an object. Drawing the contour lines of any
object or living thing is good training for artists. The painters in the Caves of
Lascaux painted fairly simple contours of animals. [Hold up the poster]. Ask the
children to point at an animal and using their finger, trace the contour or outline
of it. On their scratch paper, have them use a black crayon to draw the contour
of the bison or horse. Perhaps, have them try keeping their eyes on the poster
and drawing without lifting the crayon off the paper.
There's a wonderful piece on the Caves of Lascaux from Sister Wendy's video
series. I'll have it on the art cart, cued up (it has an obvious endpoint). Show it if
you choose. It lasts about 5 minutes. Please recue it for the next docent.