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Stepping-Stones: A Journey through the Ice Age Caves of the Dordogne
The cave art of France’s Dordogne region is world-famous for the mythology and beauty of its remarkable drawings and paintings. These ancient images of lively bison, horses, and mammoths, as well as symbols of all kinds, are fascinating touchstones in the development of human culture, demonstrating how far humankind has come and reminding us of the ties that bind us across the ages. Over more than twenty-five years of teaching and research, Christine Desdemaines-Hugon has become an unrivaled expert in the cave art and artists of the Dordogne region. In her new book she combines her expertise in both art and archaeology to convey an intimate understanding of the “cave experience.” Her keen insights communicate not only the incomparable artistic value of these works but also the near-spiritual impact of viewing them for oneself. Focusing on five fascinating sites, including the famed Font de Gaume and others that still remain open to the public, Stepping-Stones reveals striking similarities between art forms of the Paleolithic and works of modern artists and gives us a unique pathway toward understanding the culture of the Dordogne Paleolithic peoples and how it still touches our lives today.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
July 24, 2020
A little academic as it should be but there are moments that communicate the true profundity of the neolithic ice age cave paintings of France. The miracle of the heroic gesture: scraping manganese ink to limestone to bridge 20,000 years ago to tell us man was not just screaming out a primeval yelp in the darkness back then.
July 29, 2020
This book suffered from being an audiobook. It references a ton of pictures that you cannot see when listening and it made it hard to follow some of the finer points of the drawings. The author made a lot of good overall points but a lot of the details were lost.
March 28, 2020
This should have been a coffee-table picture book! Though the author gives very detailed descriptions, of the locations, caves and paintings, sculptures, tools, beads, etc. and provides some photographs and her drawings, it still left me wanting to see more. The pictures are good, but small and so you can't always see what it is she is describing.
You can tell that she has a love and passion for this period and the resulting artwork. She is very knowledgeable of the subject and can relay this to the reader who may or may not have background in the material.
I will not likely ever be able to see the caves she describes so this was a wonderful virtual field trip. If you are in to Paleolithic art, pick up this book! Preferably as an e-book as I did where you can go the the figures she describes without losing your place, or go on to the web to get more information or images, and get easily back to the page you were reading.
You can tell that she has a love and passion for this period and the resulting artwork. She is very knowledgeable of the subject and can relay this to the reader who may or may not have background in the material.
I will not likely ever be able to see the caves she describes so this was a wonderful virtual field trip. If you are in to Paleolithic art, pick up this book! Preferably as an e-book as I did where you can go the the figures she describes without losing your place, or go on to the web to get more information or images, and get easily back to the page you were reading.
March 22, 2021
The book is quite interesting. My complaint is the plates referred to have been left out of the ebook versions. I am now going to have to order a physical version of this book in order to see the plates. There are some illustrations included that are quite interesting, but I'd like to see all the pictures. The story of each cave is preceded by a picture of the entrance to the cave. There are five caves discussed and the author talks of her impressions of each cave as she goes through it. In between is much information about the probable ages and creators of the caves and how it compares to others in the world.
I almost didn't go on reading when I found the plates weren't included, but decided I would. The descriptions and the illustrations are very interesting. Some of the illustrations are a little hard to make out but I'm sure they are in person also from the descriptions. A very interesting book. I'm going to try to find a paper copy with hopefully the picture plates in it.
I almost didn't go on reading when I found the plates weren't included, but decided I would. The descriptions and the illustrations are very interesting. Some of the illustrations are a little hard to make out but I'm sure they are in person also from the descriptions. A very interesting book. I'm going to try to find a paper copy with hopefully the picture plates in it.
September 22, 2018
Irritating
What numbskull decided to leave out the color plates for the e-book edition? A book on this topic demands profuse illustration.
Was it the same numbskull who formatted only some of the links to work? This is careless and sloppy, and limits the usefulness and convenience of an e-book.
Though this book is not only informative but also illuminating, the exclusion of relevant illustrations make it a ripoff.
The author's writing style is often irritating, with too many distracting incomplete sentences and an overabundance of gushing exclamations.
What numbskull decided to leave out the color plates for the e-book edition? A book on this topic demands profuse illustration.
Was it the same numbskull who formatted only some of the links to work? This is careless and sloppy, and limits the usefulness and convenience of an e-book.
Though this book is not only informative but also illuminating, the exclusion of relevant illustrations make it a ripoff.
The author's writing style is often irritating, with too many distracting incomplete sentences and an overabundance of gushing exclamations.
February 11, 2020
Not something I'm not generally interested in but the authors' passion for Paleolithic cave art becomes obvious with detailed descriptions of the caves and history, and art techniques and interpretations. Genuinely surprised and moved, the last chapter sent chills through my body. I want to see these in person now!
January 5, 2021
I learned so much from this book, but I want to take off a star from the kindle edition. The pictures were blurry, the references did not always link to the figures, and the color plates were not included.
I learned so much about the ice age caves described. The art is really sophisticated, and I enjoyed Desdemaines-Hugon's take on the caves, as a place where animals co-existed peacefully. I was frustrated by some of the incredible art she described, where she did not include any images. For instance, there are several ice-age spear-throwers in the shape of a pooping ibex, with a striped bird sitting on the feces. It is criminal to describe this, and not include a link. (I have therefore included a link to a page with lots of these images. And a really good argument that the ibexes are giving birth, not pooping. https://rockartblog.blogspot.com/2017... )
One of the things I enjoyed most was reading about the author's contributions to the field. She figured out that each category of tool used at these sites had its own type of decoration, and used this to show that chisels were made de novo, and not from recycled spears. She also used this to show that chisels with different heads were, in fact, viewed as different tools. This is the sort of insight that changes a field, but does not make the discoverer a household name. It is exciting to witness science at that level.
Lastly, I enjoyed the author's arguments that the people who lived in these caves were much more `advanced' than we may imagine, as most of their material goods (made from wood, leather, etc.) have disintegrated. She describes all sorts of artistic techniques that she claims were not used again until the Renaissance. This fit with her comments that complex cultures are less resilient. In context, I found it quite moving.
I learned so much about the ice age caves described. The art is really sophisticated, and I enjoyed Desdemaines-Hugon's take on the caves, as a place where animals co-existed peacefully. I was frustrated by some of the incredible art she described, where she did not include any images. For instance, there are several ice-age spear-throwers in the shape of a pooping ibex, with a striped bird sitting on the feces. It is criminal to describe this, and not include a link. (I have therefore included a link to a page with lots of these images. And a really good argument that the ibexes are giving birth, not pooping. https://rockartblog.blogspot.com/2017... )
One of the things I enjoyed most was reading about the author's contributions to the field. She figured out that each category of tool used at these sites had its own type of decoration, and used this to show that chisels were made de novo, and not from recycled spears. She also used this to show that chisels with different heads were, in fact, viewed as different tools. This is the sort of insight that changes a field, but does not make the discoverer a household name. It is exciting to witness science at that level.
Lastly, I enjoyed the author's arguments that the people who lived in these caves were much more `advanced' than we may imagine, as most of their material goods (made from wood, leather, etc.) have disintegrated. She describes all sorts of artistic techniques that she claims were not used again until the Renaissance. This fit with her comments that complex cultures are less resilient. In context, I found it quite moving.
February 14, 2022
Having bought the kindle version of this book, I had to get over my shock at the fact that the publisher omitted all the color illustrations from this edition! Such a rip. So, I used Google Image to supplement my reading.
This book focuses on five cave sites accessible to the public along the Vézère Valley in the Dordogne, east of Bordeaux, with instructions on how to access them. Most of the cave art and artifacts (paintings, engravings, and decorated objects) in this book are from the Magdalenian cultural period, roughly 17,000 to 12,000 years ago, which ended when the last ice age did. This is the upper (i.e., late) paleolithic, just before the neolithic, which saw the dawn of agriculture and sedentary communities.
It's interesting how different late paleolithic culture is from early neolithic. By 11,500 BP, Natufians in the Levant lived in sedentary communities and showed signs of growing rye, making bread, and brewing beer. By roughly 10,000 BP, a large and imposing temple complex was developing at Göbekli Tepe in southwest Turkey. At about the same time, the earliest dwellings were built at Çatalhöyük (also in Turkey), a complex neolithic community that reached a peak population of 8,000.
So, just 500 years before the Natufians we still see sparse groups of Cro-Magnon hunter-gatherers in the south of France, decorating their caves with beautiful artistic works, but with at best a semi-sedentary lifestyle, no plant cultivation, and no complex food preparation. On the other hand, while the paintings in the Magdalenian caves are magnificent, the wall decorations at Çatalhöyük look like stick drawings in comparison.
I would like to read more about the great human transitional period from paleolithic to neolithic. I’d also love to own a book on the Chauvet cave paintings but the only two I can find cost $263-293!
This book focuses on five cave sites accessible to the public along the Vézère Valley in the Dordogne, east of Bordeaux, with instructions on how to access them. Most of the cave art and artifacts (paintings, engravings, and decorated objects) in this book are from the Magdalenian cultural period, roughly 17,000 to 12,000 years ago, which ended when the last ice age did. This is the upper (i.e., late) paleolithic, just before the neolithic, which saw the dawn of agriculture and sedentary communities.
It's interesting how different late paleolithic culture is from early neolithic. By 11,500 BP, Natufians in the Levant lived in sedentary communities and showed signs of growing rye, making bread, and brewing beer. By roughly 10,000 BP, a large and imposing temple complex was developing at Göbekli Tepe in southwest Turkey. At about the same time, the earliest dwellings were built at Çatalhöyük (also in Turkey), a complex neolithic community that reached a peak population of 8,000.
So, just 500 years before the Natufians we still see sparse groups of Cro-Magnon hunter-gatherers in the south of France, decorating their caves with beautiful artistic works, but with at best a semi-sedentary lifestyle, no plant cultivation, and no complex food preparation. On the other hand, while the paintings in the Magdalenian caves are magnificent, the wall decorations at Çatalhöyük look like stick drawings in comparison.
I would like to read more about the great human transitional period from paleolithic to neolithic. I’d also love to own a book on the Chauvet cave paintings but the only two I can find cost $263-293!
July 30, 2025
The book was written in 2010, so the reader needs to be aware it is slightly out of date with updated anthropology breakthroughs as of 2025. One example is the major breakthrough in 2010, when scientists discovered that humans had indeed interbred with Neanderthals. The book was published in 2010. Judging from the precise information in the book, I'm inclined to think the book's production timeline overlapped with or predated the May 2010 breakthrough or perhaps the author was not aware of the study when finalizing the manuscript as it was published in a field (genetics) outside her primary focus.
That being said, the main focus of the book is the study of the power and beauty of Paleolithic art. The above note is a minor caution to ignore the small discrepancies and pay attention to the purpose of the book. Her enthusiasm is contagious. Her descriptions are exquisite. I spent so much time rereading passages and imagining (as she probably intended) the world and scenery at that time in these specific examples (and gazing at the photos provided) and especially the incredible human beings who created this awe-inspiring art. I'll be rereading this book and will be looking for a copy of my own. I highly recommend it with one caveat. Read the print version and not ebook so you can see the incredible artwork in detail for yourself.
That being said, the main focus of the book is the study of the power and beauty of Paleolithic art. The above note is a minor caution to ignore the small discrepancies and pay attention to the purpose of the book. Her enthusiasm is contagious. Her descriptions are exquisite. I spent so much time rereading passages and imagining (as she probably intended) the world and scenery at that time in these specific examples (and gazing at the photos provided) and especially the incredible human beings who created this awe-inspiring art. I'll be rereading this book and will be looking for a copy of my own. I highly recommend it with one caveat. Read the print version and not ebook so you can see the incredible artwork in detail for yourself.
June 26, 2023
Overall I liked the book, but it didn't come across as well as an eBook as I would have liked.
There were many, many descriptions, and some links to the artwork discussed. But sometimes it seemed like just a long list of what was drawn in the caves, or carved as the case may be. The links to the photos were appreciated, but there was quite a bit more I would have liked to actually see rather than just described. So, while quite interesting, the text didn't flow real well at times, and could have used more photos.
The eBook was formatted pretty well, with only a couple of spelling/grammatical mistakes.
There were many, many descriptions, and some links to the artwork discussed. But sometimes it seemed like just a long list of what was drawn in the caves, or carved as the case may be. The links to the photos were appreciated, but there was quite a bit more I would have liked to actually see rather than just described. So, while quite interesting, the text didn't flow real well at times, and could have used more photos.
The eBook was formatted pretty well, with only a couple of spelling/grammatical mistakes.
January 22, 2025
I was torn between giving this 3 or 4 stars; the text was incredible and illuminating, but it suffered a lot from a lack of images. I ended up giving 4 stars because part of this was the fault of the publisher, since the color plates were, for some reason, not included in the ebook version. It’s possible that these would have filled a lot of the gaps. Even so, though, many of the descriptive text didn’t reference a plate, and I often had trouble finding relevant images on google. So I’d love to have an updated version of this book, with the same or updated text, and hundreds of full color images and interpretive line drawings!
October 23, 2020
The audiobook version of this work feels a bit...ungrounded due to the lack of illustrations, but the author's vivid descriptions and loving analysis kept me interested. Discussions of Paleolithic cave sites rarely center on artistic techniques like gesture and perspective, and I really enjoyed thinking about the past through that lens.
January 30, 2022
I appreciate the photographs, I really do, and I'm keeping in mind I read this on my Kindle, but I simply could not "see" the artwork the author was talking about. I ended up having to go online to find the paintings. The book itself is short, sweet and to the point, but I wish the photographs had been of better quality.
March 20, 2019
I had no idea there were so many Paleolithic art caves that are still open to the public. This is a beautiful, thoughtful book by a scientific expert who also conveys here personal responses to the amazing art.
September 24, 2019
A book about the wonderful Paleolithic cave paintings of France, reading this on the Kindle halved the enjoyment as all the reproductions of the pictures where in black and white. However, although the text was filled with archeological and artistic jargon, it was fascinating to read.
January 3, 2020
A wonderful guide to the cave art of the Dordogne, surprisingly so because there are so few images in the book. But Ms. Desdemaines-Hugon words evocatively convey the experience of visiting the caves.
December 6, 2019
Ok
Missed the color photos that have come to be integral to descriptions of art works. Good narrative descriptions and art appreciation.
Missed the color photos that have come to be integral to descriptions of art works. Good narrative descriptions and art appreciation.
January 28, 2022
I enjoyed reading this very detailed book. My sole complaint is the lack of photographs. Would it have killed the author to include a few photographs of her subject?
February 3, 2022
Informative but hard to stay interested after a while. Became repetitive.
March 23, 2022
More data than I wanted in many cases (and so I did a bunch of skipping) but what a fascinating topic. The ebook has the black-and-white “figures” but not the presumably color plates.
April 15, 2024
If you are curious about paleolythic art and the caves of Dordogne, this is great. If you ever go, you can hire the author as a guide.
January 14, 2013
Valued reading it as a "companion" to on site visits to caves covered in the book, but the author delivers a rewardingly rich range of informatipn on pre-historic human existence. She doesnt have a specific position to defend, but is very good about making the readwr aware of contemporary and diverging studies. Despite being very "to the point," she brings a very humanistic understanding to her depiction of early man through observations on art, tools, and living conditions. Stylistically, a pleasure to read.
June 25, 2010
A sensitive and very intelligent book on the art of the paleolothic, and a very good read. She does a nice job of mixing the latest thinking about the time period and its people from the whole range of experts, along with personal and professional reflections on the caves and the art itself. Fascinating, she keeps it from being too dry though some of the lengthy description could have been cut a little bit...but her love of the subject is palpable, so perhaps not.
December 11, 2015
I first read this in May, 2012. This is my second read, third time for several chapters. A really good guide to the caves and cave art of south central France. I particularly appreciated that the author doesn't try to say why the paintings were done — something we will never know — but rather urges us to appreciate their beauty and the skill with which they were executed. I'll be traveling there in a few days, and visiting some caves in the company of Ms. Desdemaines-Hugon.
September 8, 2012
An amazing book that captures her passion regarding the artists who painted in the caves of Dordogne, France. She has classically trained as an artist and an archaeologist, lived there for 25 years, and made innumerable visits to these caves. I walked away with an appreciation that I never would have otherwise had. I was so impressed that I contacted her and she will be taking my wife and I and two other couples on a guided tour of two caves when we visit France later this month.
February 13, 2014
Beautifully written examination of the art of the ice age caves of the Dordogne. Having visited two of the five sites described by Desdemaines-Hugon her delight in them made me wish to re-experience them again - as well as visit the others. Scholarly and entertaining, a great introduction.
March 5, 2014
A really interesting book. The various cave paintings and etching are described in great detail. I would have liked more photographs in the book. I had to keep going to the internet to find images of the things being described.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews