7 characteristics of RUPESTRE paint

Despite the thousands of studies that have been carried out on Prehistory, the study of our ancestors is difficult to decipher, due in large part to the few sources that exist on the epoch. One of the sources most valued for showing actions carried out by the ancient inhabitants of our planet are the paintings, being very interesting representations of Prehistory. To get to know them better, in this lesson from a TEACHER we are going to talk about cave painting characteristics.

The rock paintings or artare samples of art of prehistoric and primitive origin found in caves or stones, made by prehistoric men and whose task seems to be to represent common scenes of prehistoric humans.

It is difficult to place these paintings chronologically, partly because they are from very different times and, on the other hand, because they are paintings made at a time with almost no sources to support us. Even so it is considered that the first paintings can be 40,000 years ago, that is to say that during the last ice age.

Rock art is one of the manifestations that has endured the longest years without spoiling, since their situation in caves protect them from natural elements that could erode such old paintings. But in recent years they have started to suffer problems, mainly from people's visits to the paintings.

The importance of rock art is especially relevant for being the first cultural manifestations of human beings, but also for showing the daily life of human beings, and therefore they are one of the main sources we have to know prehistoric life.

To continue with this lesson on characteristics of cave painting, We must talk about the main elements that show us the existence of this painting and its differences with the rest of the works. The main characteristics of cave painting are the following:

1. Although paintings from all over the world are not related to each other, they were made with the same materials. Some of these were hematite, feces, or mixtures made using clay. Prehistoric men used practically all the resources available to them to paint the caves, as many materials that are still used today as others that have fallen into disuse.
2. Among the drawings that were made in the caves were the animals, being generally the wild ones. Drawings of humans or hands were also made. The animals drawn are thought to be both wild species that were hunted for food by humans, and pets that could already be had at that time. As for the drawings of humans and hands, the former seem to want to show daily life and of the hands we do not know their origin.
3. They were carried out in caves and shelters, being where many of the human beings of the time lived. These caves and shelters have over time been essential for the maintenance of the paintings, being less prone to receiving rains or other environmental problems.
4. It is considered the oldest art form of mankind, beginning in the ice age. Although it was the first art form, there is no evidence that they could influence any other artistic style later.
5. Another characteristic of cave painting is the color used. Colors of all kinds were used, although these had to be original, such as the red or yellow. There are very few cases of using more complex colors, and it seems that the people of the time did not know how to create them.
6. Can be found on all continents except Antarctica, being therefore all those places where the human being lived in prehistory.
7. Demonstrates the human character to show the events of his life from the beginning, being a custom that has been maintained with the human being throughout his existence.

Cave paintings are found on every continent on the planet except in Antarctica, and its existence allows us to see the great differences that existed during Prehistory between different peoples around the world.

Europe

The main European cave paintings can be found in the Iberian Peninsula, although there are also other deposits in other European countries such as the Chauvet Cave in France. In Spain the most relevant deposits are those known throughout the world as caves of Altamira, and all the rock caves of the Levant that are called rock art of the Mediterranean arch.

Africa

Some of the oldest cave paintings in the world are found on the African continent, examples being the Drakensberg in South Africa, those of Namibia, Somalia or a huge number of cave paintings that are found every year in the desert of the Sahara.

America

Virtually all South American countries have cave paintings, those in Argentina and Peru being especially famous. There is no common artistic framework for the entire region, with great differences between the different areas.

Asia

The cave paintings found are located in Malaysia, Indonesia, India and Thailand. Among all of them the oldest and most famous are those of Malaysia, located in the Perak area.

Oceania

In Australia, a large number of ocher cave paintings have been found, those of the Kakadu National Park being especially known. No traces have been found on any of the small islands that make up the continent, making it especially difficult for the first settlers to reach these islands.