Lascaux Cave Paintings

The Lascaux cave paintings are very old pieces of art. They are found in a cave in France. People painted them about 17,000 years ago. The pictures show horses, bulls, deer, and other animals. They are some of the oldest paintings ever found.

How They Were Found

Four teenage boys found the Lascaux cave in 1940. They were out for a walk when their dog fell into a hole. When they went to rescue the dog, they found a hidden cave. Inside, they saw hundreds of paintings on the walls. No one had seen them for thousands of years. The news spread all over the world.

How the Art Was Made

The early artists used natural colors made from the earth. They ground up rocks and mixed them with water or fat. They painted with sticks, brushes made of animal hair, or even their fingers. Some painters blew the paint through hollow bones. The cave was dark, so they needed lamps made of animal fat to see.

Fun Facts

• There are about 600 painted animals inside the Lascaux cave.
• The paintings are so old they were made during the Ice Age.
• One part of the cave is called the Hall of the Bulls.

Did You Know?

The real Lascaux cave is closed to the public now, but a copy of it was built nearby so people can still see the art.