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SCIENCE PROGRESS 



of the recess (c) near the entrance. The earliest efforts are 

 drawings in black outline, some of which could scarcely be 

 better ; these were succeeded by paintings in red wash, 

 which are somewhat crude ; then follow incised drawings, 

 traced with a sure hand, and showing no signs of retouching. 

 Last of all come the polychromes, which are rudimentary to 

 begin with, but subsequently attain a high degree of perfection. 



Fig. 2. — Plan of the Cavern of Altamira, Drawn by M. Harle. 



Total length, 280 meters. A, entrance ; B, vestibule half filled with kitchen debris and fallen fragments 

 from the roof; c, chamber on the left, 40 meters long by 10 meters broad, with large paintings; 

 D, fallen rocks ; E, gallery on the right opening into the chamber r, from which a cascade of stalagmite, 

 G, covered with sculptures, descends to the left ; H, a narrow diverticulum, with red figures on the 

 walls, opening into f; I, gallery, with floor covered by fallen fragments from the roof; J, chamber 

 with vaulted dome-like roof ; K, cascade of stalagmite ; l, elongate, nave-like chamber ; M, shallow 

 water pits ; n, terminal passage. The figures occur over all the walls, but mostly on the roof of the 

 chamber left of B. 



The greater number of the animals shown in fig. 3 are poly- 

 chromes of this kind. Where these occur there is evidence 

 to show that the surface was prepared for their reception, 

 previously existing paintings having been washed or scraped off. 

 The outlines were first drawn in with black pigment, then the 

 colours were put on, tufts of hair on the mane and elsewhere 

 being indicated by touches with a brush ; the body colour was 

 smeared on as a soft paste, extended and graduated to give 

 the half-tones, and then retouched by washing and scraping, 

 bands of colour being removed to give the high lights and to 



