The Oldest Star Chart is Magnificent!

Ray Cash · #1 10-10-2011, 04:29 AM

It's 17,500 years old. And, AFAIK, my friend and muralist extraordinaire Andrew Johnstone is the first man (in modern times) to recognize the Cave at Lascaux for what it is: Fantastic images of animals, yes, but grouped according to star patterns dictated by the night sky of the ancient summer solstice (Northern Hemisphere) . See, explore, ENJOY: http://adjohnstone.com/STARWALLS.html

Ray Cash · #2 10-10-2011, 05:09 AM

A quick googling of "cave at lascaux star chart" turns up a number of links, even on Wikipedia. . . But the earliest is 1999 and 2000, about the same time Andrew had this insight (while working on a project to replicate parts of Lascaux. Working, by the way, with paleontologists, who were skeptical of his theory). Did others steal his insights? Or come to these conclusions independently? I dunno.

astroron (Ron) · #3 10-10-2011, 10:53 AM

Very interesting Ray,Takes a bit of imagination to piece all that together.
Thanks for shareing

Cheers

Liz · #4 11-10-2011, 09:38 AM

Amazing and beautiful Ray. Am pretty sure I saw this on TV awhile back and loved it then too.
How astounding are these, perhaps not so primitive people, to be able to paint these charts!!
I havent been to these caves, which I think are closed to the public, though there may be a replica cave?? I have been to other prehistoric caves in France at Les Eyziers, which was fabulous!!