The Discovery of the Lascaux Caves by Robot the Dog: A Prehistoric Treasure
As World War II ravaged Europe, a young French boy named Marcel Ravidat ventured out for a casual stroll near his home in Montignac, a small town in the Dordogne region of France. With his faithful dog Robot by his side, Marcel had no idea that this walk would lead to one of the most significant discoveries in the history of art. On that day in September 1940, Robot fell into a hole, prompting Marcel to investigate. What began as a rescue mission for his canine companion quickly turned into a discovery that would bring to light some of the earliest known examples of man-made art – the Lascaux cave paintings.
Marcel initially believed that he had stumbled upon a legendary secret tunnel rumoured to lead to hidden treasure, a tale passed down through generations in the local village. Instead, the narrow 50-foot shaft opened up into a vast underground cavern. With only the dim glow of a small oil lamp, Marcel began to explore and was astonished to see large animal figures painted on the walls and ceiling of the cave. Unbeknownst to him, these images were over 17,000 years old, and he was likely the first person in thousands of years to lay eyes on them.
With the oil in his lamp dwindling, Marcel and Robot quickly scrambled back to the surface. Eager to share his discovery, Marcel returned with his friends Jacques Marsal, Georges Agnel, and Simon Coencas. They, too, were mesmerised by what they saw, describing a "cavalcade of larger-than-life animals" seemingly dancing along the walls. The boys kept their discovery a secret for some time, charging small fees to local children who wished to glimpse the ancient art. Eventually, they approached a local historian, who recognised the gravity of their find and advised them to prevent any further visitors from entering the cave to avoid damage to the artwork.
Jacques, just 14 years old at the time, took the historian's advice seriously. With the support of his parents, he set up camp by the cave’s entrance and remained its vigilant guardian throughout the harsh winter of 1940-41. This marked the beginning of Jacques' lifelong connection to the site, where he would serve as a dedicated warden until his death in 1989.
The Lascaux Cave Paintings
The Lascaux caves were officially opened to the public in 1948, eight years after their discovery. However, the timing was unfortunate; during World War II, the area had been occupied by German forces, and archaeological work was delayed. Once the war ended, experts were finally able to begin their analysis of the cave. The paintings, predominantly of animals such as horses, deer, aurochs (an extinct species of long-horned cattle), and stags, soon garnered global attention. Notably, some paintings also included human figures, a rare feature in prehistoric cave art. One particularly intriguing figure depicted a man with a bird's head, which some historians believe indicates a shamanic practice.
The sheer number and scale of the paintings added to the significance of the discovery. The cave walls were adorned with over 600 paintings and 1,500 engravings, making Lascaux one of the most important prehistoric art sites ever found. Among the most notable artworks is an image of a bull, which measures over 17 feet in length, making it the largest known depiction of its kind from this era.
Archaeological Significance
One of the most remarkable aspects of the Lascaux cave paintings is the sophisticated use of pigments. Archaeological analysis revealed that the pigments contained manganese oxide, a mineral that could only be sourced from the Pyrenees mountains, some 250 kilometres south of Lascaux. This suggests that the people who created the paintings either had access to long-distance trade networks or undertook significant journeys to gather the materials they needed, demonstrating a level of organisation and culture far beyond what was previously assumed for this period.
The discovery of human figures and the apparent shamanic imagery also opened new avenues of research into prehistoric belief systems. The detailed depictions of animals are thought to represent not only the fauna of the time but also cultural and religious significance. The people of Lascaux may have been engaged in rituals connected to the animals they depicted, using art as a way to communicate with or honour the natural world.
The Impact of Tourism and the Closure of the Caves
As peace returned to Europe after World War II, the Lascaux caves became a major tourist attraction, drawing visitors from all over the world. By the mid-1950s, over a thousand people were visiting the site daily, eager to see the ancient paintings for themselves. However, this influx of visitors came at a great cost to the cave’s delicate ecosystem. The sheer volume of carbon dioxide from visitors’ breath, along with humidity and mould growth, began to visibly damage the paintings. The powerful spotlights used to illuminate the cave also contributed to the degradation, causing the pigments to fade.
In 1963, the French government made the difficult decision to close the caves to the public in order to preserve the artworks. The damage caused by years of unchecked tourism would take decades to repair, and even today, efforts to conserve the site are ongoing. In 2009, over 300 historians, archaeologists, and scientists were employed by the French government to study the cave’s condition and devise strategies to preserve the artwork for future generations.
Lascaux II and Continued Legacy
In 1979, Lascaux was named a UNESCO World Heritage site, which marked a turning point in its preservation. To allow the public to experience the cave paintings without causing further damage, a replica of the cave, known as Lascaux II, was created. The replica was first exhibited at the Grand Palais in Paris in 1980 before being permanently installed just 200 metres from the original site in 1983.
Lascaux II is a painstakingly accurate replica, with every detail of the original cave’s artwork meticulously recreated using the same tools, methods, and pigments believed to have been used 17,000 years ago. Although modern artists crafted the replica, the experience of walking through Lascaux II is said to be nearly indistinguishable from visiting the original cave. Today, Lascaux II attracts over 30,000 visitors annually, allowing people from around the world to appreciate the majesty of prehistoric art while ensuring the continued preservation of the original site.
The Lascaux cave paintings stand as a testament to the ingenuity and creativity of our prehistoric ancestors. They offer a window into the lives, beliefs, and cultural practices of a civilisation that existed long before written history began. Thanks to the efforts of conservationists and the creation of Lascaux II, these ancient artworks will continue to inspire and educate future generations.
Sources:
Bahn, P. G., & Vertut, J. (1997). Journey Through the Ice Age. University of California Press.
Clottes, J. (2008). Cave Art. Phaidon.
Curtis, G. (2006). The Cave Painters: Probing the Mysteries of the World's First Artists. Knopf.
Lascaux.fr. (n.d.). The Official Website of the Lascaux Caves: History of the Lascaux Cave Discovery. Lascaux Official Website.
Smith, S. (2021). Lascaux: The World’s Most Famous Prehistoric Cave.
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