Aurochs in the Sky. A Celestial Interpretation of the Hall of Bulls in the Cave of Lascaux

Frank Edge
Mitchell College

One Great Bull image from the "Hall of Bulls" in the cave of Lascaux is identified as celestial by comparison of markings in the painting with known star groupings.
Speculation is pursued that the entire frieze (a composition) might have celestial interpretation. The frieze is recognized as a picture of the star groups along the ecliptic which appeared from dusk to dawn at the season of the summer solstice (ca. 15,000 B.C.) at the time Lascaux was painted. Two methods are then discussed for how the star picture represented in the frieze could easily have been used in conjunction with the lunar phases to keep track of the summer solstice and the passage of the summer season.