About the Chauvet Cave Bears

Paleolithic artists drew the red ochre cave bear reproduced below as early as between 32,400 and 30,340 years ago on wall in the Chauvet Cave north of what is now Marseilles, France. The paintings in this cave are the oldest known to exist. The bear is a symbol of healing, initiation, and new life in many world cultures.

"Chauvet Cave was a bear cave, a fact its first prehistoric explorers could not help but notice. The bear was present through its clawmarks, its hollows, its prints, its impressive skeletons, perhaps even its odour. It is possible that they tried to capture the essence of its power."

Jean-Marie Chauvet, Eliette Brunel Deschamps and Christian Hillaire (The discoverers of the cave.) Dawn of Art: The Chauvet Cave - the Oldest knows paintings in the world. New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 1996.

French Government Chauvet Cave Site

This official government site details the discovery and preservation of the find. It also has a slow-to-load, but well-worth-the wait virtual tour of the cave.

Behold the Stone Age

This 1995 Time Magazine article tells about the discovery and how it changes our notions about how prehistoric people thought.

The Chauvet Cave

This site contains an excellent collection of links to articles about the cave.

Chauvet Cave: France's Magical Ice Age Art

This page contains brief excerpt from a National Geographic article along with art and links.

PaleoArt

A broad history of Paleolithic art as well as a history of the discoveries are contained on this site, which has beautiful images.