Post by Sharon Faulkner on Jun 21, 2006 8:16:15 GMT -5
Oldest cave painting in CzechRep uncovered in Moravian Karst
June 21, 2006
Adamov- The oldest cave painting in the Czech Republic is in Byci skala cave in the Moravian Karst (Moravsky Kras) as scientists recently proved that it was created 3,200 years B.C., Ivan Balak from the Moravian Karst protected landscape area said.
The Neolithic picture depicts a geometrical shape resembling a "grill" painted by coal on the cave well. "We cannot find out any more whether it it was a ritual figure or part of a larger painting," Balak said.
The 30x40 cm painting along with other prehistorical artifacts was uncovered in the cave by speleologists some time ago near the place where scientist Jindrich Wankel found the famous statuette of a bronze bull and remains of a ritual burial from the Iron Age.
Experts took samples of the painting. With the aid of the radio-carbon method C14 they could specify its age. To their great surprise, they found out that the painting is 5,200 years old.
The pattern on the cave wall resembles decorations on some ceramic vessels from that period as well, Balak said.
"The discovery of the oldest cave art in the Czech Republic is very significant," Balak said.
Some of the oldest prehistorical paintings in the Czech Republic are preserved in Mladecske caves near Olomouc, north Moravia. However, as they are made by red colour, their age cannot be determined exactly.
www.ceskenoviny.cz/news/index_view.php?id=195327
June 21, 2006
Adamov- The oldest cave painting in the Czech Republic is in Byci skala cave in the Moravian Karst (Moravsky Kras) as scientists recently proved that it was created 3,200 years B.C., Ivan Balak from the Moravian Karst protected landscape area said.
The Neolithic picture depicts a geometrical shape resembling a "grill" painted by coal on the cave well. "We cannot find out any more whether it it was a ritual figure or part of a larger painting," Balak said.
The 30x40 cm painting along with other prehistorical artifacts was uncovered in the cave by speleologists some time ago near the place where scientist Jindrich Wankel found the famous statuette of a bronze bull and remains of a ritual burial from the Iron Age.
Experts took samples of the painting. With the aid of the radio-carbon method C14 they could specify its age. To their great surprise, they found out that the painting is 5,200 years old.
The pattern on the cave wall resembles decorations on some ceramic vessels from that period as well, Balak said.
"The discovery of the oldest cave art in the Czech Republic is very significant," Balak said.
Some of the oldest prehistorical paintings in the Czech Republic are preserved in Mladecske caves near Olomouc, north Moravia. However, as they are made by red colour, their age cannot be determined exactly.
www.ceskenoviny.cz/news/index_view.php?id=195327