Final answer:
Humans made their first known cave paintings approximately 40,000 years ago, with discoveries across Europe and Asia suggesting a rich tradition of prehistoric art. The most ancient cave art currently known, attributed to Neanderthals, dates back around 65,000 years in Spain. Over time, the practice of cave painting declined due to climatic changes and shifts in human settlement behavior.
Step-by-step explanation:
Earliest Known Cave Paintings
The oldest known cave paintings created by humans date back to approximately 40,000 years ago. These ancient artworks were discovered in a variety of locations including Spain, France, and Borneo. Notably, the Chauvet-Pont-d'Arc Cave in France contains art that dates back over 30,000 years and features a vivid portrayal of various species such as predatory animals and herbivores.
Initial assumptions regarding early cave art suggested it originated around 15,000-17,000 BCE as seen in the Lascaux cave in France. However, a significant discovery by archaeologist Alistair Pike revealed that the practice of cave painting began much earlier. In Spain, cave artwork was found that dates to around 65,000 years ago, predating the arrival of Homo sapiens in the area and suggesting that Neanderthals were the artists—giving them the current title of the creators of the oldest cave art discovered.
Cave paintings serve as a medium to understand the daily lives, spiritual beliefs, and artistic expressions of early humans. They depicted the fauna around them and contained symbols of spiritual significance. As the climate changed and human societies evolved, the practice of creating cave art diminished around 10,000 years ago, transitioning to new forms of expression on the surface settlements.