Historians use art to help them understand what happened in previous time periods. How can looking at cave paintings from tens of thousands of years ago help historians understand events of the past?

Question

Historians use art to help them understand what happened in previous time periods. How can looking at cave paintings from tens of thousands of years ago help historians understand events of the past?

The cave paintings have captions that tell what was happening to humans at the time.

The cave paintings provide maps to other historic sites nearby.

There were no animals at this time, so the cave paintings show specific human behaviors.

There was no written language at that time, so the cave paintings provide insight into how people lived.

Answer 1

By studying cave paintings from tens of thousands of years ago, historians can gain insight into the daily lives, beliefs, and activities of ancient peoples. The images depicted in the cave paintings can provide information about the types of animals that were hunted, the tools and weapons that were used, and the social structures and relationships of the people who created the art. Additionally, the style and subject matter of cave paintings can reflect the cultural practices, spiritual beliefs, and artistic traditions of a particular time period. Overall, analyzing cave paintings can help historians to piece together a more complete understanding of the events and conditions that shaped the lives of early humans.