Cave Paintings of Pech Merle: What You Need to Know

The Pech Merle cave in the French department of Lot houses unique cave paintings created by prehistoric Homo sapiens around 25,000 years ago. These masterpieces not only amaze with their antiquity but also provide insight into the culture and worldview of Paleolithic people.
Photography is prohibited inside the cave, but a few shots were taken to convey the atmosphere of this place. People of that era did not live in caves, as commonly believed. They used them for rituals and communication with the spiritual world.
In the attached drawing, a figure is depicted with four lines crossing its body. Researchers debate the meaning: some consider them to be spears or arrows, while others view them as symbolic elements related to spiritual beliefs.
Nearby is a mysterious geometric sign, the meaning of which remains unknown. It may have been part of an ancient symbolic language or ritual.
The most famous image in the cave features two horses covered in black dots. Next to them are six handprints, which may have belonged to a single individual. The exact meaning of this composition is unknown, but it is believed to have had a sacred significance.
The cave was discovered in 1922 by teenagers André David and Henri Dutertre. While exploring underground passages, they found the ancient paintings.
Visiting the cave must be booked in advance on the official website Pech Merle. The number of visitors is limited to no more than 700 people per day, so tickets sell out quickly in the summer.