Cave Paintings in the Pyrenees

Abstract

FURTHER details of an interesting discovery of the prehistoric painting of a horse in a cave in the Pyrenees, briefly announced some weeks ago, are now supplied by Science Service, Washington D.C. The cave, to be known as La Grotte de la Bastide, is situated near the village of La Bastide, Hautes Pyránáes, and was discovered by M. Norbert Casterat, pupil of Count Bágouen. At the entrance of the cave were intact Magdalenian hearths, and on the walls were a number of engravings and polychrome paintings, including human figures, and as the central object, a polychrome painting of a horse. The horse is described as ‘uperb’ and is an artistic production comparable with the famous horse of the Altamira cave at Santander. The figure is more than six feet long, and is executed in red with black muzzle. The mane is erect; the eye, ear and nostril being delicately engraved. High lights are indicated on shoulders, stomach and flanks. Judging from this description, the painting would appear in every way to be an exceptionally fine example of cave art.