The Beauties of The Stone Age: Eusko Jaularitza Gobierno Vasco

The document summarizes an article about ancient cave etchings that were recently discovered in Church Hole cave in Nottinghamshire, England. The etchings date back around 13,000 years and depict a wide range of wild animals. There are over 90 etchings total, with 58 on the ceiling which is extremely rare for cave art. Experts consider the etchings to be an incredible artistic achievement that radically alter our understanding of the culture in Britain during the Ice Age, as they show the people were part of a widespread culture across Europe. However, some debate exists around the purpose and meaning of the etchings.

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The Beauties of The Stone Age: Eusko Jaularitza Gobierno Vasco

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EUSKO JAULARITZA

GOBIERNO VASCO

Task 2. (Marks: 7)
Read the text, then choose the correct answer a), b), c) or d). (0) is the
example.

The Beauties of the Stone Age

Jane Howard views some works of ancient art
i have just come home after viewing some astonishing works of art that were recently discovered
in Church Hole cave in Nottinghamshire. They are not drawings, as one would expect, but
etchings, and they depict a huge range of wild animals. The artists who created them lived
around 13,000 years ago, and the images are remarkable on a variety of counts. First of all, their
sheer number is staggering: there are ninety all told. Moreover, fifty-eight of them are on the
ceiling. This is extremely rare in cave art, according to a leading expert, Dr Wilbur Samson of
Central Midlands University. 'Wall pictures are the norm,' he says. 'But more importantly, the
Church Hole etchings are an incredible artistic achievement. They can hold their own in
comparison with the best found in continental Europe.' I am not a student of the subject, so I
have to take his word for it. However, you do not have to be an expert to appreciate their beauty.
In fact, it is the wider significance of the etchings that is likely to attract most attention in
academic circles, since they radically alter our view of life in Britain during this epoch. It had
previously been thought that ice-age hunters in this country were isolated from people in more
central areas of Europe, but the Church Hole images prove that ancient Britons were part of a
culture that had spread right across the continent. And they were at least as sophisticated
culturally as their counterparts on the mainland.
News of such exciting discoveries spreads rapidly, and thanks to the Internet and mobile phones,
a great many people probably knew about this discovery within hours of the initial expedition
returning. As a result, some etchings may already have been damaged, albeit inadvertently, by
eager visitors. In a regrettably late response, the site has been cordoned off with a high, rather
intimidating fence, and warning notices have been posted.
An initial survey of the site last year failed to reveal the presence of the etchings. The reason lies
in the expectations of the researchers. They had been looking for the usual type of cave drawing
or painting, which shows up best under direct light. Consequently, they used powerful torches,
shining them straight onto the rock face. However, the Church Hole images are modifications of
the rock itself, and show up best when seen from a certain angle in the natural light of early
morning. Having been fortunate to see them at this hour, I can only say that I was deeply - and
unexpectedly - moved. While most cave art often seems to have been created in a shadowy past
very remote from us, these somehow convey the impression that they were made yesterday.
Dr Samson feels that the lighting factor provides important information about the likely function of
these works of art. 'I think the artists knew very well that the etchings would hardly be visible
except early in the morning. We can therefore deduce that the chamber was used for rituals
involving animal worship, and that they were conducted just after dawn, as a preliminary to the
day's hunting.'
However, such ideas are controversial in the world of archaeology and human origins. Dr Olivia
Caruthers of the Reardon Institute remains unconvinced that the function of the etchings at
Church Hole can be determined with any certainty. 'When we know so little about the social life
of early humans, it would be foolish to insist on any rigid interpretation. We should, in my view,
begin by tentatively assuming that their creators were motivated in part by aesthetic
considerations - while of course being prepared to modify this verdict at a later date, if and when
new evidence emerges.'
To which I can only add that I felt deeply privileged to have been able to view Church Hole. It is a
site of tremendous importance culturally and is part of the heritage, not only of this country, but
the world as a whole.