The Lascaux Paleolithic Cave Paintings
The Lascaux paleolithic cave paintings are among the famous paintings not only in France but also all over the world. In fact, Lascaux is among the World Heritage sites. In Lascaux, there are several cave paintings with different meanings and purposes with the famous paintings being the Fist Chinese horse, the Great Black Bull, and the Red Cow.
Purposes of Cave Paintings
The cave paintings like those in Lascaux have different purposes but, most importantly, they are designed to convey some kind of message to the viewers. For instance, some of these cave paintings are for religious purposes, and some come with a kind of attribution to the souls/spirits of the animals killed in the hunt (Bastian and Alabouvette 6). Some of the Lascaux cave paintings are just for fun whereby the archeologists put some paintings on the walls for successful hunting or rather to hunt more animals.
Preservation of Lascaux Cave Paintings
The Lascaux cave paintings are still available because of the techniques of drawing and paintings are unique, and they make Lascaux exist until the present. In ancient times, there was no modern painting equipment like today and artists utilized brushes made from the animals, human hair, and even plants to pain on the walls (Chalmin, Menu, and Vignaud 1590). In addition, they used the organic pigment, animal fur, and even vegetable fibre due to limited material available for painting and this is why the Lascaux paleolithic cave paintings are still available.
The Mystery of Stonehenge
For several centuries, archaeologists and historians have mystified over the functions and the meaning of Stonehenge monument. Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument found in Wiltshire, England. While it is clear that historians have agreed that Stonehenge has been a great place of importance for several years nears, there are several theories and myths about its possible meaning and function because its true meaning and purpose have remained a mystery. For instance, the most famous theory about Stonehenge is that it was designed to keep track of the time and other vital astronomical events. Stonehenge's strategic location allows the sun to rise directly above it and that is why it believed that it was built to keep track of time and the calendar.
Other Purposes and Views of Stonehenge
Some other scholars believe that the Stonehenge was also built for other purposes, which include playing a vital role as a sacred or rather ceremonial place used for cultural and special religious significance for several people. Moreover, it is used as a religious pilgrimage site and a memorial-resting place for royalty. In addition, there is a theory that it has always used as a sacrificial temple, burial site, and a cremation cemetery due to the presence of skeletal remains at the site (Pearson et al. 240). Stonehenge is also viewed as a mystical healing place where people traveled great distances just to get their healing at the magical bluestones on the monument. Additionally, according to research done by the University of Sheffield, archaeologists concluded that Stonehenge was built to unify the people of Britain after long periods of battles and conflicts (University of Sheffield).
The Enigma of Stonehenge
Stonehenge is among the renowned decipherable sites in the world that has drawn tourists from all over the world to visit the site. It has undergone several developments over the years despite its true meaning and function unknown. The true purpose and meaning of Stonehenge remain a mystery, but one thing that is apparent is that the builders built it for a specific role and meaning. Overall, Stonehenge remains a rare historical monument despite the mystery of its true and real meaning why it was built.
Works Cited
Bastian, Fabiola, and Alabouvette Claude. "Lights and Shadows on the Conservation of a Rock Art Cave: The Case of Lascaux Cave." International Journal of Speleology 38.1 (2009): 6.
Chalmin, Emilie, Menu Michel and Vignaud Colette. "Analysis of Rock art Painting and Technology of Palaeolithic Painters." Measurement Science and Technology 14.9 (2003): 1590.
Pearson, Mike Parker, et al. "Stonehenge, its River and its Landscape: Unravelling the Mysteries of a Prehistoric Sacred Place." Archaologischer Anzeiger 1 (2006): 237-258.
University of Sheffield. Research finds Stonehenge was Monument Marking Unification of Britain, 2012. https://phys.org/news/2012-06-stonehenge-monument-unification britain.html Accessed 30 Jan. 2018.
