Lascaux.19thpsalm.org
Animation: A Skymap at Lascaux
A Sky Map at Lascaux Cave
by
David C. Bossard
Lascaux.19thpsalm.org
"When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers,
the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained,
What is man, that thou art mindful of him?
and the son of man, that thou visitest him?"
Psalm 8:3-4
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Lascaux.19thpsalm.org
Lascaux Cave Painting from free-hdwallpapers.com
Bulls 15 (left) and 18 (right)
at Lascaux Cave
ASSERTIONS:
• This is a star chart
• This was painted between 13,200 BC and 17,000 BC
• Its preservation is an act of God's providence
(or, if you prefer, an incredible accident of history)
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Above Horizon
Below Horizon
gif image
Sky charts generated by Cartes du Ciel
Sky Map 15,000 BC July 2 5:30 AM
View from Lascaux Cave
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jpeg image
… Showing Stars, Orion, Taurus &
Pleiades – all visible to the naked eye
All stars up to magnitude 5.3 are shown
Star Circles are 30 arc-minutes diameter
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… fading into the sky map
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… All gone
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Fading back in …
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jpeg Image
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Outline of Stars (continues below and
to the right)
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…Showing Betelgeuse, Bellatrix, Aldeberan, Pollux,
al Nath and Pleiades (true position and "inset")
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The Orion Constellation
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The Head and Horns of Taurus
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The Pleiades
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Supplement:
A Larger view -- Painting
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gif image
Supplement:
A Larger view -- Map
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jpeg image
Supplement:
A Larger view -- Map
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jpeg image
Supplement:
A Larger view – Map + Painting
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jpeg image
Supplement:
A Larger view – Map + Painting + Lines
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Lascaux Cave Painting from free-hdwallpapers.com
Bulls 15 (left) and 18 (right)
at Lascaux Cave
ASSERTIONS:
å This is a star chart
• This was painted between 13,200 BC and 17,000 BC
• Its preservation is an act of God's providence
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Lascaux.19thpsalm.org
08,000 BC
Horizon Line when Orion Falls
09,000 BC
10,000 BC – Skewed
11,000 BC
12,000 BC
13,000 BC
15,000 BC
14,000 BC
15,000 BC – Parallel
16,000 BC
The horizon line limits the time
of painting to between 10,000 BC
and 17,000 BC at the extremes.
17,000 BC – Skewed
18,000 BC
19,000 BC
20,000 BC
21,000 BC
22,000 BC
2,000 AD
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Visibility of Orion's Belt
• Between 8,350 BC and 13,200 BC
Orion's belt is always below the horizon
- 12,900 BC: 1 of 3 stars barely visible at horizon
- 13,200 BC: 2 of 3 stars barely visible at horizon
 Hence,
Later than 9,000 BC the horizon
line is quite skewed
the painting must
be earlier than 13,200 BC
and later than 17,000 BC.
Lascaux.19thpsalm.org
Lascaux Cave Painting from free-hdwallpapers.com
Bulls 15 (left) and 18 (right)
at Lascaux Cave
ASSERTIONS:
å This is a star chart
å This was painted between 13,200 BC and 17,000 BC
-- from the painting itself, apart from other dating.
• Its preservation is an act of God's providence
(or, if you prefer, an incredible accident of history)
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THE END
Animation: A Skymap at Lascaux
Lascaux Cave Painting from free-hdwallpapers.com
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Animation
Animation: A Skymap at Lascaux
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