Institute For Ice Age Studies

While artist's reconstructions in popular magazines continue to show men as the primary creators and users of Upper Paleolithic art, no evidence exists to support of this scenario. An important body of evidence bearing on this question comes from the detailed examination of foot- and handprints that were left in the caves themselves (Pales et al. 1976). This evidence clearly indicates that men, women and children were all deep underground in the painted caves. Apparently children have not changed much since the Paleolithic; their prints are found in all sorts of nooks and crannies, while those of adults are restricted to paths that follow the middle of the galleries. Another source of insight comes from painted handprints. A series of these surrounding the Pech-Merle horses discussed above are extremely delicate, and may well be those of women.

So the answer to our question is: Men may have been the painters; women may have been the painters; children may even have painted some of the images; or any or all of the above may have been true, depending upon the time, place and social context in which the images were created.