Some experts have long believed that Palaeolithic art was older than the 15
000 years attributed to caves such as Lascaux. Now they have proof. In 1994
three French speleologists came across an undiscovered cave, some of whose 300
wall paintings are 30 000 years old. This extraordinary story is told by the
discoverers themselves, Jean-Marie Chauvet, Eliette Brunel Deschamps and
Christian Hillaire, in Chauvet Cave: The Discovery of the World’s Oldest
Paintings (Thames & Hudson, £28, ISBN 0 500 01706 9). The photographs
are stunning, as are the implications for human cognitive development.
More from New Scientist
Explore the latest news, articles and features
Technology
Test moderators use AI-generated writing to judge literacy standards
News
Mind
THC in cannabis may reduce nightmares in people with PTSD
News
Environment
Fishers detonate a bomb every hour on one Indonesian coral reef
News
Environment
How bad is the UK drought and how long will it continue?
News
Popular articles
Trending New Scientist articles