Palaeolithic Art

Art is a universal and timeless gift of mankind. It has been with the humans since the dawn of time. Art is manifested in the earliest archaeological relics found. Apart from the purpose of use, the early crude stone implements bear the signs of harmony with the use, and are aesthetically pleasing to the eyes and intellect. Archaeological evidences show that, since about 40,000 years BC, the ornamental values were inseparable components of the stone implements.

Chipped hand tool from about 170,000 BP
Stone spear, from about 35,000 BP
Humans of the Szeleta Culture (Hungary, about 20,000 years BC) chipped the flint with such artistic drive and skills, the early finds (unearthed from the foundation of Barsony House) were thought to be fakes until diggings in the Szeleta Cave of the Bukk Mountains uncovered the home of Szeleta Man. The cave yielded about one thousand chipped flint implements of the same style and exquisitely artistic qualities. The Barsony House find No 2, about 300 mm long - 12 inches (1884, Miskolc, Hungary.)
Spear - The Barsony House find No 1, bay leave shaped, typical of Szeleta Culture.
Seleta Cave, the richest in Palaeolithic artefacts of about 22,000 BP. Miskolc, Hungary. The original floor was at level with the ground outside the entrance. The excavation of Seleta was one of the first diggings properly mapped, recorded and catalogued.

The graphic art, preserved in the caves of France and Spain, shows extreme richness in themes, composition and colours. They display the skills of masters in graphic art, stylish representation and use of tools.

	Horses The Chauvet-Pont-d'Arc Cave Dated up to 32,000 years BC
Bison The Chauvet-Pont-d'Arc Cave Dated up to 32,000 years BC
Cave Tigers The Chauvet-Pont-d'Arc Cave Dated up to 32,000 years BC
	Bison The Chauvet-Pont-d'Arc Cave Dated up to 32,000 years BC
Painted wall Chauvet-Pont-d'Arc Cave
Kapova, Russia Late Palaeolithic
	Mammoth Pech Merle, France Upper Palaeolithic
	Bison c. 15,000-12,000 BC length 77 in. (195 cm) Altamira Cave, Spain
Bison Head c. 15,000-10,000 BC Altamira Cave, Spain
	Horse c. 15,000-10,000 BC Lascaux Cave, France
Mammoths - engraved, skilled stylish graphic art coupled with aesthetic composition. Vallon Ponta' Arc, France
Bison head - amazing graphic skills Niaux, France 10,500 - 11,500 BC