The Caves and Cave Art

    Prehistoric art is both an interesting subject and a rare subject.  Found around the world in obscure places, the art work has often been damaged by neglect, age, or vandals.  Some of the most famous pieces were found in the tombs of the pharaohs in Egypt, in the monuments to the deceased kings and queens.  Stonehenge in England is a monument whose origins are obscure and leave more questions than answers.  Sculptures on Easter Island are remarkable for size and shape.  Olmec sculptures in the Yucatan leave behind the same unknowns.   And cave art and artists are added to these mysteries.
      After spending time examining caves in Southwest France, it is apparent that prehistoric artists were alive and well 15, 000 years ago.  Yes, 15,000 years ago.
      Lescaux is perhaps the poster child of caves with prehistoric paintings.   Now closed to the public, it is a victim of its own success.  For years, it was open and viewed by thousands of curious archeologists, artists, historians, and the public.  Deterioration of the cave environment in the form of mold and high moisture levels, led experts to close the caves to all visitors in the late 20th century.  As a token of their exceptional value as objects of art, a duplicate cave was developed nearby that faithfully rendered the same images found in the Lescaux cave itself.  This satisfied locals and experts alike.
More later