Research overview: cave lions in Upper Paleolithic cave art

This overview examines depictions of cave lions in Upper Paleolithic art, most famously the powerful panel of lions at Chauvet Cave in France, along with engravings and figurines from across Ice Age Europe. These images are a unique source of information about the living appearance and behaviour of Panthera spelaea, complementing bones and frozen carcasses. The survey reviews what the art suggests about the cave lion's body form, the apparent absence or reduction of a male mane, possible coat markings, and even hints of group hunting in scenes showing multiple lions together. It discusses the interpretive cautions involved in reading prehistoric art, the cultural significance of lions to Paleolithic people, and how artistic evidence informs reconstructions of cave lion appearance and social life.