Discovery and Legacy of the Lascaux Cave Paintings

Daily Current Affairs / Discovery and Legacy of the Lascaux Cave Paintings

Change Language English Hindi

Category : International Published on: February 27 2026

Share on facebook

In September 1940, four teenagers led by Marcel Ravidat discovered the Lascaux Cave near Montignac in southwestern France. The cave contained over 2,000 prehistoric images dating back nearly 17,000 years. Archaeologist Henri Breuil confirmed the paintings belonged to the Magdalenian culture of the Upper Palaeolithic period.
The artwork, featuring horses, aurochs and deer, was created using natural pigments like ochre and charcoal. Opened to the public in 1948, the cave was closed in 1963 due to damage. Replicas such as Lascaux IV now preserve and showcase this historic treasure.