How can people discover the age of a cave painting?
In: Chemistry
The paint which is usually a dye or extract can be dated to determine an age range. They also can judge it based off other artifacts, tools, bones, etc that are also found in the caves or if there has been an archeological find nearby.
It is really hard. A lot of cave paintings are of very vague age.
One way is if a painting is in an area with minerals being deposited by water. It is possible to age these minerals. So if the painting is on top it must be newer, and if it is underneath it must be older. Even better if it is over some deposit and under some other. Then you have a range!
A lot of paintings are only aged relative to other paintings, based on the style.
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