Question

evidence # 2: paleolithic cave paintings
a paleolithic cave painting in the lascaux cave in france depicting a bull and horses.

1. what can historians learn from cave paintings as artifacts?
2. how reliable are such paintings as historical sources?

reliable:( how the these artifacts can provide useful information into a period)
limitations (what these artifacts can’t provide or tell us)

Explanation:

1. Cave - paintings can reveal aspects of pre - historic life such as the animals that existed in the area (e.g., the bull and horses in the example), the hunting practices (if animals are depicted in a hunting context), and the artistic capabilities and symbolic thinking of early humans. They may also give clues about social and religious beliefs if there are repeated motifs or patterns.
2. Reliable: They are direct artifacts from the period, providing a tangible link to pre - historic times. They can offer information about the environment and the fauna of the era. Limitations: The exact meaning of the paintings may be unclear as there is no written context. We cannot be sure if they are representational or symbolic in all cases, and they may only represent a small part of the overall life of Paleolithic people.

Answer:

1. Historians can learn about the animals present in the area, hunting practices, artistic capabilities, and possible social or religious beliefs of Paleolithic people.
2. Reliable: They are direct artifacts that can inform about the environment and fauna. Limitations: The exact meaning is often unclear due to lack of written context and they may not represent the full range of life in that era.