Book 5, Question 82
Cave Artists! Why Did People Paint on Cave Walls?
People painted animals and shapes on cave walls thousands of years ago, and some of those paintings are still there today. Scientists are not sure exactly why they did it. The paintings might have told stories or marked special places, and they show that early people were creative.
From the book
Page from A Million Whys Book 5
More fun facts
- Cave artists probably made paints from natural things like rocks, mud and berries.
- Some cave paintings in Spain are about 65,000 years old and are among the oldest cave art ever found.
- Artists started painting animals on cave walls around 35,000 years ago.
- In one cave in Patagonia, people kept adding paintings for about 3,000 years. That is around 130 generations.
- Cave drawings of people and animals were made with simple lines and shapes.
Sources: BBC, National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine, Smithsonian Magazine, Science News Explores
Questions kids ask
What is pigment?
Pigment is a paint or dye made from natural materials.