Storiascopio · Era 2 of 12 · primary year 3
The Lascaux cave
about 19,000 years ago · Lascaux, France

In short
In the Lascaux cave, in France, there are about 600 painted animals: mostly horses, then deer, aurochs (huge wild cattle), ibex and bison. The cave was discovered on 12 September 1940 by four teenagers. To protect the paintings, the real cave is closed and visitors see faithful copies.
Why it matters It is one of the masterpieces of prehistoric art, sometimes called ‘the Sistine Chapel of prehistory’.
Source: French Ministry of Culture, “Lascaux” – “Dating the figures at Lascaux”
Where we are in the era “Prehistory”
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 13
- 14
- 15
- 16
- 17
- 18
- 19
- 20
- 21
- 22
- 23
- 24
- 25
about 7 million years agoEvent 16 of 25about 5,300 years ago
Your turn
Name ______________________ Class ______ Date __________
When did it happen? Find the date at the top and write it here:
Tell it in your own words: what happened?
Draw the scene below.
storiascopio.com/en/event/the-lascaux-cave/ · free worksheet, you may photocopy it for your class