Religion

      Paintings, such as those at Lascaux, clearly indicate a special reverence and awe fro certain animals. This suggests that, for the first time human history, people were expressing the beginnings of religious beliefs. Further evidence of religion comes from another cave in France called Trois-frères. Here, in what is called the Chapel of the Lioness, a cave lion engraved on a stalagmite shows signs of being repeatedly struck, as if to kill it symbolically. It is thought that the Chapel of the Lioness might have been ritual meeting place of Paleolithic hunters.
      The technological innovations and artistic expression of the people of the Paleolithic period clearly set them apart from the earlier Neanderthals. After millions of years of evolution, humans acquired the knowledge and ability to change their environment according to their needs.

Writing: ECHOES from the Past published by McGraw-Hill Ryerson Ltd.