Lascaux : Composition or accumulation ?

Abstract

espanolTradicionalmente, se viene considerando que el arte de la Cueva de Lascaux constituye una composicion homogenea, abarcando tan solo unos pocos siglos, datada en torno al 17.000 BP. Este articulo revisa, criticamente, la sorprendentemente escasa literatura cientifica sobre la Cueva. Se discuten las evidencias, limitadas y poco fundadas, que sustentan aquella interpretacion, aportando unas conclusiones muy diferentes en relacion con la supuesta homogeneidad de aquel Arte. Se postula tambien la existencia de diferentes fases de ejecucion, en dos cavidades independientes, realizandose la decoracion a lo largo de un dilatado periodo temporal. EnglishThe «orthodox» view of the art in the cave of Lascaux is that of a homogeneous composition, spanning a few centuries at most, and dating to about 17,000 years ago. This paper undertakes a thorough and critical review of the surprisingly small number of original texts concerning the cave, and of the very limited and imperfect evidence that has led to this establishment view, and arrives at some very different conclusions regarding the alleged homogeneity and the dating. It argues instead for a multi-phase decoration spanning a long period, and involving two separate caves.

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