What can Cave Art teach us about extinct animals?

I won't say very much, but what can "cave art" teach us about extinct animals?

Maybe it took many generations, but we are descendants of the people who painted this.

a reply to: halfoldman

That they were tasty?

Hunting the Auroch!

According to bison hunts in our era: The first thing they ate.

The delicate tongue was shared with fellow hunters on the scene.

Brother, may I offer you?

Maybe the eyeballs being warm, but the women do the rest.

a reply to: halfoldman

Thanks for posting this.

I like those paintings on the cave walls. Something really visceral and pure about them. Probably our only window into what critters may have looked like back then.

a reply to: halfoldman

It could of been the cavemans pets for all we know

a reply to: ABNARTY

It's Better than looking at their Dead Bones ..

I'd say there would be plenty of information available in cave paintings, but most of it would be left to interpretation. Some cave art is very realistic, others are quite abstract so it would be difficult to be certain what was factual rather than stylistic.

Most of the information would relate to the importance of the animals to human survival and not so much about the animals themselves. I'd imagine that the animals of most importance to humans at the time for food, shelter, religious iconography, beneficial or hazardous animals, etc., were mostly portrayed. Hunting techniques and rituals might be portrayed as well. Due to a limited color pallet, their natural coloration would be questionable, but the overall patterning would likely be correct. Relative sizes would be hard to determine as well. There might be some information about predator/prey relationships.

a reply to: MichiganSwampBuck

But anything that looks like it might be extraterrestrial...is.


I need to go to bed now.

a reply to: Phage

Is what Phage, some cave paintings are actually of extraterrestrials?

I'm thinking that your joking with me considering I never mentioned ETs being represented in cave paintings.

It's OK if you're joking, it's just that sometimes your humor comes off as less than funny.