The Secret of Lascaux Cave: A Prehistoric Discovery
In September 1940, in the quiet countryside of Montignac, France, a simple walk in the woods turned into one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of the twentieth century. Four teenagersâMarcel Ravidat, Jacques Marsal, Georges Agniel, and Simon Coencasâalong with Marcel's dog, Robot, were exploring the forest near their town. Suddenly, Robot began sniffing excitedly at a deep hole left by an uprooted tree. Filled with curiosity, the boys cleared away some rocks and found a narrow shaft leading deep into the earth.
The boys returned the next day with a lantern to explore the dark opening. Slipping down the steep, muddy tunnel, they emerged into a massive underground cavern. When Marcel held up the lantern, they were amazed by what they saw. The stone walls were covered in giant, colorful paintings of animals. They had accidentally discovered the Lascaux Cave, a hidden treasury of prehistoric art.
- Prehistoric:
- Relating to the period of time before written history was recorded.
- Ochre:
- A natural earth mineral containing iron, ground up to make red, yellow, or brown paint pigment.
- Pigment:
- A dry coloring matter that can be mixed with liquid to make paint.
- Replica:
- A highly detailed, exact copy of something.
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Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1Who discovered the Lascaux Cave, and in what year did they find it?
- 2What led the teenagers to find the hidden entrance of the cave?
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About this report passage for Upper Elementary
âThe Secret of Lascaux Cave: A Prehistoric Discoveryâ is a report reading passage about Prehistoric Cave Paintings, written for Upper Elementary. It takes about 3 minutes to read (518 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.