Amazing Caves - Paleolithic Art and Unusual Formations
For years, I have been curious about the paintings completed by our ancestors inside caves. I've seen a few pictures, but for the most part-- there aren't that many pictures to view. One can't help but wonder about the people that painted them, their methods, what their lives were like.
These pictures are just a few of the many paintings found in caves-- and they offer a fascinating glimpse into the lives of us, as we were, thousands of year ago! I hope that you enjoy them, as well.
This is a painted bison on the ceiling of Altamira cave, in Spain. The cave has been closed to visitors for several years as they paintings were becoming damaged. This painting is 14,000 years old.
The painting of a deer in the Altamira cave is within the "Polychrome Hall" a passageway that is well covered by ochre paintings. On the lower left, sensors that measure temperature and humidity are located.
"The Polychrome Hall" in Altamira cave has been compared to the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican, because of the lovely paintings on the ceiling. What do you think these animals are?
These hand prints were painted in the Argentinian cave of Cueva de las Manos, (Cave of the hands). Located in Pantagonia, these paintings were made about 9,000 years ago.
The "blue caves" along the Greek island of Zakynthos are accessible only by sea. Sunlight reflecting off the water gives these caves a blue hue, making them a popular spot for swimming and boating.
Stalactites drip from the ceiling in the beautiful cave located in the Dordogne region of France. Mineral laden water drips from the ceiling, depositing calcium carbonate or other minerals in a long icicle-shaped stalactite.
The Kaklik cave in Turkey is fed by sulphur filled waters not unlike those found at Mammoth Springs in Yellowstone National Park. The sulphur content of the water gives these caves a rotten egg smell.
The Mulu caves in Borneo are some of the most expansive on earth. Carved out of limestone in the Gunung Mulu National Park, the caves extend for at least 225 miles of underground passages.
A cave wall on the island of Antiparos, Greece, resembles flowing water, frozen in place. Cave formations such as stalactites and stalagmites are know by geologists as "speleothems".
The Borgio Verazzi cavern in Italy was discovered by three young boys in 1933. It is now open to the public for viewing.
Thanks for coming by!
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You don't have to be a geologist to enjoy caves! The paintings and the formations are endlessly fascinating to me-- and I don't like closed spaces-- but when well-lit, I am comfortable enough to enjoy them!
Hope you like them, too!
I love this stuff! Of course!
The paleolithic art is just so fascinating! I can't imagine what they went through to paint it, either...
Thanks for coming by!
I used to spelunk in Missouri as a teen. One day, I went into a cave, by myself (Stupid, stupid, stupid thing to do), found an interesting inlet into a bigger cavern and started to crawl through. My pack got stuck and I almost totally freaked out - I was only 16. After waiting 'bout 30 minutes to calm down, released the pack straps and backed out.
Haven't been in a cave since.
Great article Dowser, I love this stuff.
1st there are a heck of lot of caves all around Missouri to investigate. Going alone isn't the best way to do it...LOL...did you have to change your shorts after that adventure?
Lascaux was discovered a few years after WWII. It was open to the public for a while, but then closed to protect it... and an exact copy was created for tourists!
This is from the linked LIFE article:
Very interesting article Dowser....thanks for posting this!
1st, I have several friends that are spelunkers and they speak of buddies who were below when it rained and they were washed out-- some of them drowned, etc. There are places here that you'll be driving along and see a hole. When you go up to the hole and look in, there is water running through! Fascinating!
I love caves, but I'm not happy if they are too tight, either. We went through the Bat Cave at Carter Caves here in KY-- a dark trip where one relies on flashlights. There were a few tight places and, I must admit, it was worrisome...
Glad you don't go alone any more...
Kavika-- we've been to several Missouri caves and they are wonderful! The one at Hannibal is one of my favorites-- and it is in the same formation as Mammoth Cave-- the St. Genevieve formation.
Thanks, both of you, for coming by!
This is the cave I was looking for, but couldn't even remember its name! I love this-- it is absolutely gorgeous-- and look how talented they were back then... I bet, in torch light, the figures dance on the walls.
Thanks so much for this picture!
If you Google "Lascaux", and then click on "Images", there are a bunch! Or the linked article...
Thanks, Bob-- I will explore them this afternoon! Something to look forward to!
Thanks sweet Nona!
Dowser, I'm not much of a cave dweller,. but as a kid growing up one of my hero's was Superman. As an adult I can't begin to tell you how surprised that I actually found the city of Metropolis, home of Superman. And to seal my amazement there was a giant statue of Superman in the town square along with a real Newspaper called, The Daily Planet. Now I find that there is a real bat cave,. The Bat cave exists, ...life just doesn't get any sweeter than this....
LOL!!!
Bat Cave is a very special place-- it is in Carter Caves, in the extreme eastern portion of KY, and is just a part of Carter Caves where bats hibernate all winter. They only let people inside in the early spring, and then only for a few weeks. You have to have a small group or easily managed adults, but when you're inside with your flashlight, there are literally thousands of little bats, all glued to the ceiling with one leg... They look like mice cocoons. So cute!
Here is a map, and here is a link -- there are all kinds of caves there! I love the place-- it is pretty in the winter, because of all the cascading water down the sides of the mountains and the evergreens... It is usually pretty foggy there-- and that adds to the mystery and beauty of the area...