CAVE-BEARS

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 221, 7 December 1927, Page 6

CAVE-BEARS

It Is strange that the old prehistoric men who could paint and carve the outlines of animals on the walls of caverns with such great skill were not at all clever at depicting accurately the human form. There are fery few drawings of men and women in the ancient caves, and these usually represent ugly and grotesque creatures which cannot faithfully portray human beings. Probably there was some magical reason for this; perhaps it Was considered unlucky to draw a man as he really appeared. No scenes giving us any clear idea of the life and adventures of hunters of ancient days had come to light until Professor Breuil, the famous historian of antiquity, recently made a remarkable discovery in the Cavern of Pechialet, in Southern France. When examining the cave Professor Breuil found a flat slab of rock with a vivid picture engraved on it. In the centre, standing on its hind legs and with its mouth savagely open, is a large bear which has just dealt a blow with its paw at the head of a human being who seems on the point of falling down. Behind the bear, obviously hurrying to the rescue of the stricken individual, is another, person, who is waving his arms and brandishing what looks like a weapon. / We know that the caverns of France and elsewhere were the abode of ferocious cave-bears, and it has been concluded that many conflicts must have taken place between these great beasts and prehistoric man, but here at last is conclusive evidence of the truth of the surmise. We can imagine what the

scene depicted on the slab of rock really means. It seems that an ancient hunter has entered the cave and is suddenly confronted by a great bear, which advances upon him. The man has no weapon, but, unable to retreat, engages in fight with the bear, at the same time calling loudly for help. His cries are heard, and out of the fastnesses of the cavern one of his companions comes running, waving a spear which he has hastily picked up and evidently determined to save his friend. We do not know how the fight ended, but this small slab of rock tells us a stirring story of many thousands of years ago. and shows that even then man was courageous and eager to help a comrade in distress, _