Lascaux - Readings of Interest

A beautifully illustrated, comprehensive book covering the underground environment of Lascaux, its magnificent images and history. Maps, charts and schematic drawings included.

Lascaux - A Work of Memory ; by Jean-Michel Geneste, Tristan Horde & Chantal Tanet, Fanlac, 2003 (English translation 2004).

A nice discussion of how our cultures (art and language) are transmitted through the ages within the issues of time and memory. Jean-Michel Geneste, one of the authors, is also the curator of Lascaux Cave.The ICPL, while recommending this book on some counts, is dismayed at the disclaimer by Geneste in the last chapter citing today's grave crisis in the cave as simply a continuation of the 1962-63 crisis and making the misleading statement that "...Lascaux is still energetically resisting after half a century of attacks." The ICPL clearly disavows this assessment of the crisis and of Lascaux's current condition.

Prehistoric Art:The Symbolic journey of Humankind ; by Randall White, Abrams, New York, 2003.

In this lavishly illustrated book, the author surveys prehistoric objects and images from around the world. Rather than studying them as "works of art" according to our own perspective, Dr. White presents them within the context of the societies which created them and which, ultimately, give them their meaning.

Journey through the Ice Age; by Paul Bahn, 1997, University of California.

Written for the interested layperson as well as the academic, this wide-ranging book surveys past and present theories about the cave art of the Ice Age; it explores the enigma of the sites including the most recent discoveries, and provides readers with a stimulating view of the life and art of our prehistoric ancestors. It is also a visual feast thanks to the superb full-color photographs of the late Jean Vertut.

Altamira; by Antonio Beltran, 1999, Abrams, New York.

This beautiful book presents a fresh look at the cave of Altamira in light of the most recent discoveries in the field of Paleolithic archaeology. With splendid photographs and a thoughtful text, this book provides many readers the chance to see the art of Altamira in detail and to learn about the people who created it 14,000 years ago

Dawn of Art: The Chauvet Cave ; by Jean Marie Chauvet, Eliette B Deschamps & Christian Hillaire, 1996, Abrams, New York.

This beautiful book narrates one of the most thrilling discoveries of modern times: the oldest known paintings in the world painted and engraved on the walls of a cave 30,000 years ago.

Chauvet Cave: The Art of Earliest Times ; by Jean Clottes, University of Utah Press, 2003.

A more recent book on the cave that has attracted the most attention as Chauvet is not open to the public. This version incorporates some of the findings from recent research.

The Cave Beneath the Sea; by Jean Clottes and Jean Courtin, 1994, Abrams, New York.

In the same collection, this book reviews the wonderful and sometimes enigmatic images found on the walls of the Cosquer cave, a prehistoric cave discovered underwater in 1991.

Roots of Civilization; by Alexander Marshack, Mc Graw Hill, 1972, reprint 1992.

The late Alex Marshack developed the use of microscopic techniques to better understand the ways in which markings and images were made. He was motivated by the idea that perhaps many images were notational systems, and perhaps even calendars.

Ascent to Civilization; by John Gowlett, A. Knopf, New York, 1984, reprint 1993.

Illustrated with photographs, diagrams and drawings, this book sets forth in details what has been discovered about early humans.

Secrets of the Ice Age;by E. Hadingham, Walker, New York, 1981.

A professional and well-written overview of cave art and archeology in France, tying the art into what is known about the hunter-gatherers and human evolution.

Out of Print (can be found in libraries)

Cave of Lascaux: The Final Photographs; by Mario Ruspoli, Abrams, 1987.

A splendid album of the most recent and superbly photographed paintings of the Lascaux Cave.

Altamira Revisited and Other Essays;by Les, Freeman and J. Gonzales-Etchegaray, Institute for Prehistoric Investigations, Department of Anthropology, University of Chicago, 1987.

A series of thoughtful essays on Altamira and the "mysteries" of Paleolithic art.

Dark Caves, Bright Visions ;by Randall White, The American Museum of Natural History, New York, 1986.

Illustrated by spectacular photographs of the Ice Age, this book explores the extraordinary creativity of this period, which led to the emergence of the first human art tradition.

The Creative Explosion; by John Pfeiffer, Harper and Row, 1982.

An enquiry into the origins of art and religion, which argues that much of the art and its sudden appearance was a way to store and communicate information.

Treasures of Prehistoric Art

This splendid book is a pictorial survey of 20,000 years of Paleolithic art in which Leroi-Gourhan analyzes thousands of decorated objects, engravings wall paintings and reliefs: an amazing photo gallery, along with his famous interpretation that the art in the caves was generated according to some underlying structural or "grammatical" principles for the selection of animals or images and for their placements in the caves.

The Inheritors by William Golding

This prize winning author (Lord of the Flies) presents a gripping and challenging account of how the modern humans came to be the inheritors of the earth over the Neanderthals.

The Clan of the Cave Bear book series, by Jean Auel

The interaction and difference between Neanderthals and modern humans is the basic theme of this well documented novel series.

Dance of the Tiger, Single Tusk, by Bjorn Kurten

These two books, written by a specialist of the fauna of the Ice Age, also explores the interaction and co-habitation of Neanderthals and modern humans in Europe. Excellent descriptions of the environments of the times, along with an intriguing hypothesis about the mating relationships . Dance of the Tiger was reprinted by the University of California Press, but Single Tusk may be hard to find.

Reindeer Moon, by Elizabeth Marshall Thomas

The author, who lived for several years with the Bushmen of Botswana, evokes in this very realistic novel the spiritual lives of our prehistoric ancestors. Highly recommended for a compelling way to “get inside” what might have been the daily lives, the difficulties and the spirits of Ice Age peoples.

In the Land of Temple Caves; by Frederick Turner, Counterpoint, Perseus Books Group, 2004.

A beautifully written journey through the land of the caves with commentary on art and the human spirit.

Juniper Fuse: Upper Paleolithic Imagination and the Construction of the Underworld ; by Clayton Eshelman, Wesleyan University Press, 2003.

The Cave Painters; by Gregory Curtis, Alfred A. Knopf. 2006.
A look at prehistoric art, the artists and their modern day discoverers.

The Mind in the Cave; by David Lewis-Williams, Thames & Hudson, Ltd., 2002.

Using the most recent findings in neurological science, Lewis-Williams explores the development of the human mind and the birth of art.