Cave Stories
Ann Haney suggested that we watch Stone Age Masterpiece on PBS.
Deep in the gorges of southern France lies the Chauvet Cave, an archaeological treasure hidden from the world for millennia. Sealed by a rockfall 20,000 years ago, and rediscovered in 1994, it protects some of the world’s oldest and best-preserved Stone Age art, including depictions of lions, mammoths, and rhinos that still vibrate with life. Join a team of scientists as they unlock the secret history of the cave, from giant bears that prowled through it to mysterious large fires that illuminated it. Watch as they uncover how these early humans created carefully planned compositions on the walls, upending our traditional understanding of art history and connecting us intimately to the dawn of human creativity.
There is much to capture your imagination as the film tells the story of the cave and those who visited. Personally, I can’t stop thinking about the bears. Learn more about the caves, the bears, and the art on the official website.
Also last week I took a class about myths from the Carnegie Center for Literacy and Why We Tell Stories by Lisel Mueller was shared. I think this poem pairs well with the film so you can write in response to the film, the poem, or just one of the Chauvet Cave images as you wish. If that is not enough, then simply contemplate the cave bears finding their way through the dark to sleep and dream.
