Communication

We know that early man had a higher intelligence and a more structured society than we had previously imagined. We know that they communicated with each other and were keen observers of animals.

They had some knowledge of animal anatomy, as some pictures depicted animals insides, even showing the womb complete with the baby. Some pictures were very detailed showing whiskers and upright tails, the heavy coat of hair that the horse grows in the winter and the patchy look of a bison when it sheds its winter coat.

Some pictures are of the people themselves, showing that they wore clothes, sometimes similar to those of westerners in Medieval times, including hats. We don’t know who painted, but we can guess that it was the men. They could not hunt in bad weather so had time to spare, whilst the women were busy searching for plants, making clothes and looking after the children. We know from the paintings that the men had the capability of shaving, though we don’t know how. Most are pictured clean shaven, though some have neatly trimmed beards or mustaches.

We know that they communicated with each other as many of the paintings show them hunting together, using pits and cliff edges to kill the kill or capture the animals. We also know from paintings found in certain parts that fish was part of the menu, as salmon are pictured.

We know that they were intelligent enough to use scaffolding to paint in the highest caves, as small holes have been found dug into the cave’s walls which could have been used for securing pegs for scaffolding. This would have been made from branches held together with rope. In one of the caves there is an imprint of a piece of rope, even showing its twist. They painted in these tall caves with the light from tiny stone lamps filled with marrow or fat, with a wick, perhaps of moss.

Without the cave paintings we would have no idea of their many capabilities, their ability to make lamps and their skill in hunting together. We have learned so much and yet they have also opened up further questions, there is still so much to learn.