In prehistoric times, more that 30,000 years ago, early humans used natural pigments or charcoal to paint on the walls and ceilings of the caves. Like every painting, the cave paintings reflect how people who created them looked at the world, offering a glimpse of their life and belief system that can help anthropologists propose hypothesis about the early human culture.
The most common cave paintings’ themes are large wild animals, handprints and schematic human bodies, but the purpose of the paintings still raises questions. The scientists are intrigued by the fact that the caves do not show signs of habitation and more, the paintings are often realized in areas that cannot be easily accessed.
Doorways through time, the following photos exhibit cave drawings from the continents of the world.
Photo by ilan molcho, imolcho, via Flickr
The Cave of swimmers in Egypt, North Africa.
Photo by Patrick Gruban, Gruban, via Flickr
The Tassili n’Ajjer cave paintings in Algeria, North Africa.
Photo by Tamsin Slater via Flickr
Indigenous Australians cave paintings in Jabiru, Australia.
Photo by Plamen Stoev via Flickr
The Magura cave paintings in Bulgaria, South-Eastern Europe.
Photo by Raveesh Vyas via Flickr
The Bhimbetka cave paintings in India, South Asia.
Photo by fantomdesigns via Flickr
The Pha Taem cave paintings in Thailand, Southeast Asia.
Photo by Joe McKenna, jpmckenna, via Flickr
The Chumash Native Americans people cave paintings in California, North America.
Photo by Nick Warner, Niquinho, via Flickr
Cueva de las manos in Argentina, South America.