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N
ews of the discovery of magnificent cave paintings in the Ardeche Valley of southeast France
in 1994 caused great shock waves around the world, not only because the paintings
were remarkably powerful and astonishingly sophisticated works of art, but because
radiocarbon tests established them to be over 30,000 years old. Named after one of the discoverers,
Chauvet, the Chauvet cave paintings are the oldest known paintings in the world (Figures1, 2, 3, 4, 5).
Several other caves containing ancient paintings (Figures 6, 7, 8), dating as far back as 10,000 – 15,000
years ago, have been discovered such as Lascaux cave in France and Altamira cave in Spain. Referred
to as Prehistoric art or Stone Age art, the universal motif of the paintings is the depiction of animals and
geometric signs.
Fig.1. Four aurochs [ox] and three rhinoceroses. (Chauvet Cave, France).
Fig.2. Detail horses’ head. A rhinoceros is depicted below. (Chauvet Cave, France).
Fig.3. A bison with multiple outlines was endowed with seven or eight legs to give it an effect of
perspective or to indicate movement. (Chauvet Cave, France).
Fig.4. A rhinoceros
with an enormous
horn drawn in a
niche. Its horn
follows the curve of
the wall. (Chauvet
Cave, France).
culture, most prehistoric art research can only deal But over and above our need to understand or
in probabilities. The most recent explanation interpret their significance, the cave paintings bring
however, is that Stone Age art was essentially home an important truth: the esthetic urge in man
shamanic (1). In primitive societies around the is not a recent refinement of civilization but part of
world, people in need have sought to contact the an ancient deep-seated need at creative
spirit world to obtain assistance with the difficulties expression that is unique to the human psyche.
of daily life. Their need to exercise some sort of
control over their environment, health, and destiny Rachel Hajar, MD
(foretell the future, restore health, change the E-mail:rachel@hmc.org.qa
weather, control the movement of animals, Reference:
converse with spirits and spirit animals) made 1. Clottes J, Lewis-Williams D. The shamans of prehistory. Trance and
magic in the painted caves. New York, Harry N Abrams, Inc., 1998.
them turn to shamans. They believe the shaman
has the unique ability to enter into a trance, travel Photo sources: Chauvet JM, Deschamps EB, Hillaire C. Dawn of Art:
The Cauvet Cave. New York, Harry N. Abrams, Inc.,1996.
into the spirit world, and accomplish the task Clottes J, Lewis-Williams D. The Shamans of Prehistory. Trance and
desired. magic in the painted caves. New York, Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 1998.