"The Cave Painters "is a vivid introduction to the spectacular cave paintings of France and Spain-the individuals who rediscovered them, theories about their origins, their splendor andmystery.Gergory Curtis makes us see the astonishing sophistication and power of the paintings and tells us what is known about their creators, the Cro-Magnon people of some 40,000 years ago. He takes usthrough various theories-that the art was part of fertility or hunting rituals, or used for religious purposes, or was clan mythology--examining the ways interpretations have changed over time. Rich indetail, personalities, and history, "The Cave Painters "is above all permeated with awe for those distant humans who developed-perhaps for the first time--both the ability for abstractthought and a profound and beautiful way to express it. "From the Trade Paperback edition."words : 82469