The representation of cave lions in Paleolithic art: Temporal differences and anatomical accuracy

• Identifies cave lions in Paleolithic art through morphometric and comparative analysis. • Combines image survey, fossil-based reconstruction, and statistical modeling. • Most feline depictions match cave lion proportions, with stable head proportions throughout the Upper Paleolithic. • Temporal changes in body proportions suggest stylistic or evolutionary convention codes. • Results reveal detailed anatomical knowledge and cultural complexity in prehistoric art. This study investigates the representation of cave lions ( Panthera [leo] spelaea ) in Upper Paleolithic art in France, dated between 40,000 and 12,000 years ago. Using an interdisciplinary approach, we aimed to identify depictions of cave lions among feline figures and assess the level of anatomical accuracy and familiarity prehistoric humans had with this extinct species. Our methodology combined a comprehensive survey of Paleolithic images (including cave art and portable objects), the reconstruction of a life-sized cave lion model, analyses of body proportions, and multivariate analyses of variance (MANOVA). The results reveal that most feline representations correspond closely to the proportions of the cave lion, particularly in terms of head dimensions, which remain consistent across pre-Magdalenian and Magdalenian periods. In contrast, body proportions show temporal variation, suggesting potential evolutionary changes in the species, shifts in artistic representations, cultural transformations in iconography, or stylistic preferences. Our findings highlight both the detailed anatomical knowledge and the complex symbolic and aesthetic choices of Paleolithic artists in their representations of large carnivores.