Many ancient cave paintings, created thousands of years ago, are thought to be prehistoric man’s way of depicting the appearance of extraterrestrial beings. However, scientists do not share this belief.
Why Did Prehistoric People Paint on Cave Walls?
Prehistoric people painted on the walls of caves where they lived and took refuge thousands of years ago, for various reasons.
Many archaeologists believe that these paintings held religious significance or were used for rituals. Sometimes, the paintings also served as a way to record important events, such as a successful hunting trip or to depict natural phenomena that humans encountered for the first time.
Cave painting is a way prehistoric people depicted life, hunting processes, or conveyed information… (Photo: Pinterest).
Scientists also believe that the paintings were used to convey information, guiding younger generations about hunting techniques or dangerous animals to avoid.
They also do not rule out the possibility that the drawings on cave walls were a way for prehistoric people to mark territory or assert ownership over the caves they inhabited. Sometimes, the paintings were simply a means for prehistoric people to express their creativity and artistic abilities.
Prehistoric individuals often used charcoal from burnt wood to paint, as this material was easy to use and almost always available. Sometimes, they used various clays, red ochre, blood, and animal fat to create their cave paintings.
Why Have Cave Paintings Survived for Thousands of Years?
A common question is why cave paintings have been able to survive for such long periods, lasting thousands of years.
Scientists explain that several factors contribute to the longevity of these paintings. Firstly, most surviving prehistoric paintings are located deep within caves, where they are protected from weather conditions like rain, wind, and sunlight.
Paintings carved on rock walls at Canyon National Monument, Arizona, USA (Photo: Getty).
The materials used for the paintings also contribute to their durability. Prehistoric people used natural pigments such as charcoal, clay, or rocks containing iron oxide to paint, which helps the artworks last longer. In addition to traditional painting methods, some artworks were carved into stone, enhancing their longevity.
Discoveries of many “extraterrestrial” paintings from thousands of years ago around the world
Alongside paintings depicting daily life, hunting, and gathering, many prehistoric artworks have sparked controversy due to their resemblance to descriptions of extraterrestrial beings.
Alien-like paintings found in India, believed to be over 10,000 years old (Photo: TOI).
In 2018, archaeologists in India discovered prehistoric paintings inside caves in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. These artworks depict creatures with large heads and strange bodies, reminiscent of images of aliens from science fiction films.
Archaeologists believe these paintings date back over 10,000 years.
Also in 2018, archaeologists uncovered numerous drawings on cave walls within the Swaga Swaga Wildlife Reserve in central Tanzania. Among these paintings, archaeologists were particularly intrigued by paintings of three mysterious figures with oversized heads.
Alien-like drawings in caves in Tanzania, thought to depict traditional rituals of the Sandawe ancestors (Photo: University of Cambridge).
Archaeologist Maciej Grzelczyk from the University of Cambridge believes that these paintings could help scientists learn more about the ancestors of the Sandawe, an indigenous group living in Southeast Africa.
One of the greatest challenges for scientists is to “determine the identity” of these three mysterious figures. Upon closer examination of the paintings, they noticed that the large heads of the figures bore a resemblance to buffalo heads.
Grzelczyk noted that buffalo horns play a significant role in the rituals of the Sandawe, suggesting that the painting of these alien-like figures may depict people wearing buffalo horn hats during ritualistic ceremonies.
Interpretations of Alien-Like Cave Paintings by Prehistoric People
These alien-like paintings on prehistoric cave walls have sparked much debate and speculation among archaeologists.
Many opinions suggest that these paintings are depictions of extraterrestrial encounters, indicating that aliens visited Earth and communicated with prehistoric humans. However, this remains a hypothesis popularized in mainstream culture, particularly as prehistoric paintings circulate on social media. In contrast, the mainstream scientific community and archaeologists do not support this hypothesis due to a lack of concrete evidence.
Prehistoric people painted animals on cave walls.
The most widely accepted hypothesis among scientists is that these paintings depict religious and ceremonial practices, where participants wore special costumes and hats, resulting in unusual appearances.
Many researchers believe that these paintings could represent prehistoric descriptions of deities, spirits, or supernatural entities that they worshipped, rather than extraterrestrial beings.
Furthermore, it is also possible that some of the paintings were later added by modern individuals to intentionally create misunderstandings for researchers.
In general, scientists believe that carefully studying the cave paintings can provide deeper insights into the lives, cultures, and beliefs of prehistoric people. They assert that prehistoric paintings carry cultural, spiritual, or symbolic significance and are unrelated to extraterrestrial beings.
