What is it about?
The spotted horses depicted in Peche Merle Cave, France, were once thought to be based on the supernatural. Evidence from the evolution and genetics of horses suggests that spotted horses existed during the Upper Paleolithic in Europe. This confirms that real rather than imaginary horses were depicted that reinforces the notion Paleolithic artists were keen observers of animals. This paper explores the implications and ramifications of this conclusion.
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Why is it important?
This paper cautions against the tendency of those who too readily accept the depiction of animals in cave art as based on the supernatural.
Perspectives
The publication derives from my previous research on Upper Paleolithic art that emphasizes the need to take a more conservative approach based on the principles of visual science
Derek Hodgson
University of York
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: The Significance of the Pech Merle Spotted Horses, Arts, May 2014, MDPI AG,
DOI: 10.3390/arts3020207.
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