"In Prehistoric Art: The Symbolic Journey of Humankind, anthropologist Randall White presents a survey of prehistoric objects and images from around the world, from the first dramatic explosion of symbolic representation that occurred approximately 40,000 years ago, to the creations of peoples whose lives and outlook remained untouched by modern civilization as recently as the early twentieth century. White interprets these objects and images in an...

Recounts the discovery of the caves in France that have artwork on the walls made by the Magdalenian people more than 17,000 years ago.

"Jacques, Jojo, Simon, and Marcel were looking for buried treasure when they explored a cave in the south of France in 1940. But the treasure inside was not what they expected, and in fact far more valuable: the walls were covered with stunning prehistoric paintings and engravings, preserved within the sealed cave for over 17,000 years. This is the true story of the boys who discovered the cave of Lascaux, bringing to the modern world powerful examples...

Describes the 1994 discovery made in Chauvet, France, of a cave with Stone Age rock paintings, and discusses the significance of cave art to people living in prehistoric as well as modern times.

"One of the most significant works on our evolutionary ancestry since Richard Leakey's paradigm-shattering Origins, The First Signs is the first-ever exploration of the little-known geometric images that accompany most cave art around the world--the first indications of symbolic meaning, intelligence, and language. Imagine yourself as a caveman or woman. The place: Europe. The time: 25,000 years ago, the last Ice Age. In reality, you live in an open-air...