The Meaning of Upper Paleolithic People Paintings - Article Example

Perhaps, the Upper Paleolithic people were intelligent enough to know that the limestone would help preserve their paintings, and so they chose the limestone cave walls to draw paintings on. Of all the different sorts of theories that I have read explaining the possible reasons or meanings of these paintings, one that I find the most interesting and believable is “boot-camp training prior to full-fledged military service and training camp prior to sports season”. I think that these paintings might be used by trained and experienced hunters to train the children and young and inexperienced hunters.

Many of these paintings show the different sorts of livestock and cattle with spears. I particularly think so because there is a painting of a black deer that is being targeted and shot at by three hunters from different positions. Another significance of these paintings could be material for teaching. It is mentioned in the reading that “some of the animals in the cave murals are pregnant, and some are copulating” As some of these paintings also show the animals procreating, the paintings might be used as images for teaching how different species reproduce.