One of archaeology’s most significant discoveries has received new publicity through Times Radio’s ‘On This Day’ feature in an interview with Professor Paul Pettitt.
About the Site
Over eight decades since its discovery, the Ice Age art of Lascaux Cave in southwest France remains one of archaeology's greatest treasures, mentioned in the same breath as the Tomb of Tutankhamun. The cave's greater than 2000 engraved and painted images were discovered by accident in 1940 during the fog of war. The little dog Robot disappeared down a fissure while out walking with his owner, who had to squeeze down into the hidden depths to rescue the little fellow. He emerged in the Hall of the Bulls, the outermost of several chambers in which powerful images of the important prey of the time - wild cattle, horses, and deer - were painted in dynamic scenes which swirl around the heads of visitors to this magical place.
In terms of the sheer number of images in the cave, the artistic skills displayed in the creation of the images and the great difficulty of creating them in such inaccessible locations, the cave remains one of the Ice Age's greatest human achievements.
Professor Paul Pettitt recently appeared on Times Radio where he discussed the discovery of Lascaux and his extensive research into the site, as well as the art of the Upper Palaeolithic. To find out more and listen to the interview, follow the links below.
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