Caveman Collection

Edna Marion and Stan Laurel in Flying Elephants
Edna Marion and Stan Laurel in a scene from Flying Elephants a two-reel silent film from 1928 directed by Frank Butler and produced by Hal Roach

Hands of a primate and a human (pencil on paper)
XZL151542 Hands of a primate and a human (pencil on paper) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; English, out of copyright

PREHISTORY: PILTDOWN MAN. A reconstruction of the head of the Piltdown Man (here called Man of Sussex) from the original publication in The Illustrated London News, 28 December 1912

Buster Keaton plays golf, silent film Three Ages 1923
Buster Keaton plays golf in the silent film Three Ages 1923

Neanderthal Man (pencil on paper)
XZL151553 Neanderthal Man (pencil on paper) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; English, out of copyright

Geological Periods
3785354 Geological Periods; (add.info.: Geological Periods. Published 1892. Diluvian period ('Periode diluvienne')

Prehistoric man, c.1880 (illustration)
8698400 Prehistoric man, c.1880 (illustration) by German School, (19th century); Bibliotheque des Arts Decoratifs, Paris, France; (add.info.: History. Prehistory. Bear hunting)

Prehistoric diet: "A mastodon chop or an ichthyosaurus cutlet." (litho)
8634860 Prehistoric diet: "A mastodon chop or an ichthyosaurus cutlet." (litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Prehistoric diet)

Popular Superstitions: The howling of a dog at night (colour litho)
8668714 Popular Superstitions: The howling of a dog at night (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The howling of a dog at night)

Food and Beverage. Bread cooking in the prehistory. Engraving in: Grands hommes et grands faits de l'industrie
3434791 Food and Beverage. Bread cooking in the prehistory. Engraving in: Grands hommes et grands faits de l'industrie, France

Skull of an early homo sapiens
3507255 Skull of an early homo sapiens; (add.info.: Skull of an early homo sapiens found in Eastern Europe.); Universal History Archive

Neanderthal skull
3499733 Neanderthal skull; (add.info.: Prehistory. Paleolithic. Mousterian. Neanderthal skull (Homo Sapiens Neanderthalensis). Middle Paleolithic (90000 BC-35000 BC). Museum of Natural History

The Dawn of Golf (engraving)
8672679 The Dawn of Golf (engraving) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Dawn of Golf. Illustration from The Boy's Own Annual (London)

Yes, dear - sometimes the idea of marriage positively frightens me! (colour litho)
8656643 Yes, dear - sometimes the idea of marriage positively frightens me! (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: "Yes)

Cro-magnon Man (print)
7420081 Cro-magnon Man (print); (add.info.: Early European modern humans, or Cro-Magnons. The first early modern humans (Homo sapiens) to settle in Europe, migrating from Western Asia

Prehistoric Man (colour litho)
8661463 Prehistoric Man (colour litho) by Collins, William Wiehe (1862-1951); Private Collection; (add.info.: Prehistoric Man)

J. Martial Bineau (2nd Plate), 19th century. Creator: Honore Daumier
J. Martial Bineau (2nd Plate), 19th century

Kurylo, Eduoard, 1918 Creator: Arnold Genthe
Kurylo, Eduoard, 1918

Neolithic mat, sandals, and basket, from La Cueva de Los Murcielagos (Cave of Bats
AIS5337969 Neolithic mat, sandals, and basket, from La Cueva de Los Murcielagos (Cave of Bats) (photo) by Prehistoric; Museo Arqueologico Nacional, Madrid

Mesolithic Rock Art: Deer and Goats (8000-7000 BC), Spain, Bicorp
AIS5375503 Mesolithic Rock Art: Deer and Goats (8000-7000 BC), Spain, Bicorp, La Arana Cave (painting) by Prehistoric; (add.info.: Mesolithic Rock Art: Deer and Goats (8000-7000 BC). Spain, Bicorp

Two Mothers. Artist: Faivre, Leon Maxime (1856-1941)
Two Mothers. Found in the collection of Musee d Orsay, Paris

The Stone Age. A Feast, 1883. Artist: Vasnetsov, Viktor Mikhaylovich (1848-1926)
The Stone Age. A Feast, 1883. Found in the collection of the State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow

ichtyosaur and plesiosaur, 1872 (engraving)
PCT4265637 ichtyosaur and plesiosaur, 1872 (engraving) by Riou, Edouard (1833-1900); (add.info.: Animals "antediluvians": ichtyosaur and plesiosaur (ichtyosaurus - plesiosaurus)

Phalic dance of type stylized-naturalistic, Mesolithic art (mural painting)
CUL4855678 Phalic dance of type stylized-naturalistic, Mesolithic art (mural painting) by Prehistoric; Archaeological Museum of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain; (add.info.: ILEIDA, El Cogul)

Prehistory: Cavemen, 1881 (Engraving)
7304328 Prehistory: Cavemen, 1881 (Engraving) by Demarle, Alphonse (1826-1896); Private Collection; (add.info.: Prehistory)

Prehistory: the discovery of fire, 1881 (Engraving)
7304327 Prehistory: the discovery of fire, 1881 (Engraving) by Demarle, Alphonse (1826-1896); Private Collection; (add.info.: Prehistory)

Prehistory: human habitat, 1881 (Engraving)
7304325 Prehistory: human habitat, 1881 (Engraving) by Demarle, Alphonse (1826-1896); Private Collection; (add.info.: Prehistory)

Cave painting, Salmon-Challis National Forest (photo)
7349163 Cave painting, Salmon-Challis National Forest (photo) by Prehistoric; (add.info.: Middle Fork of the Salmon River, Idaho)

Fire: The "Red Monster" in Old-Time Britain, illustration from Newnes Pictorial Book of Knowledge
IL281074 Fire: The "Red Monster" in Old-Time Britain, illustration from Newnes Pictorial Book of Knowledge (colour litho) by Tennant, C. Dudley (1867-1952); Private Collection

From the time of the pile dwellings, Lake Constance, Germany, History
7279714 From the time of the pile dwellings, Lake Constance, Germany, History by Unknown Artist, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: From the time of the pile dwellings, Lake Constance)

Prehistory : a wounded man (Rock painting)
1747802 Prehistory : a wounded man (Rock painting) by Prehistoric; Grotte de Cougnac, Lot, France; (add.info.: Rock painting on the wall of Cougnac cave)

Hunting, 1871 (w / c on paper)
741660 Hunting, 1871 (w/c on paper) by Griset, Ernest Henry (1844-1907); Bromley Museum, Orpington, UK; Photo © Heini Schneebeli

Dolmen des Fades (covered alley, called Palet de Roland or Morrel de las Fadas) in Pepieux (Aude, Minervois, Occitanie)
7243318 Dolmen des Fades (covered alley, called Palet de Roland or Morrel de las Fadas) in Pepieux (Aude, Minervois, Occitanie) by Prehistoric; Private Collection; (add.info)

Dolmen des Fades (covered alley, called Palet de Roland or Morrel de las Fadas) in Pepieux (Aude, Minervois, Occitanie)
7243316 Dolmen des Fades (covered alley, called Palet de Roland or Morrel de las Fadas) in Pepieux (Aude, Minervois, Occitanie) by Prehistoric; Private Collection; (add.info)

Prehistoric Man (colour litho)
STC358129 Prehistoric Man (colour litho) by Collins, William W. (1862-1951) (after); Private Collection; The Stapleton Collection

Catching June Brides in prehistoric times (litho)
6001666 Catching June Brides in prehistoric times (litho) by Gruelle, John B. (1880-1938); Private Collection; (add.info.: Catching June Brides in prehistoric times)

Prehistoric man, from Hutchinsons History of the Nations, pub. 1915
3588225 Prehistoric man, from Hutchinsons History of the Nations, pub.1915 by Collins, William W. (1862-1951) (after); (add.info.: Prehistoric man)

Dolmen des Fades (covered alley, called Palet de Roland or Morrel de las Fadas) in Pepieux (Aude, Minervois, Occitanie)
7243317 Dolmen des Fades (covered alley, called Palet de Roland or Morrel de las Fadas) in Pepieux (Aude, Minervois, Occitanie) by Prehistoric; Private Collection; (add.info)

But we have good reasons to believe that the airplane was already known in prehistoric eras (colour litho)
7180994 But we have good reasons to believe that the airplane was already known in prehistoric eras (colour litho) by Echau

Modern Science and Prehistoric Savagery (litho)
7149610 Modern Science and Prehistoric Savagery (litho) by Dyson, Will (1880-1938); Private Collection; (add.info.: Modern Science and Prehistoric Savagery)

Vue de dolmens pres de Lannion (engraving)
7179159 Vue de dolmens pres de Lannion (engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Vue de dolmens pres de Lannion)

Fresco at Cogul, Lleida, 2021 (photo)
7205098 Fresco at Cogul, Lleida, 2021 (photo) by Prehistoric; (add.info.: Fresco at Cogul, Lerida, Spain. In the upper left-hand corner we see a symbolic sign for the hunt)

The battle of brains against brute strength (colour litho)
7170895 The battle of brains against brute strength (colour litho) by American School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The battle of brains against brute strength)

Man in the Time of the Giant Bear and Mammoth (engraving)
7181330 Man in the Time of the Giant Bear and Mammoth (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Man in the Time of the Giant Bear and Mammoth)

Human figures with bows, Cueva del Civil, Tirig, Barranc de la Valltorta, Valencia
AIS5375580 Human figures with bows, Cueva del Civil, Tirig, Barranc de la Valltorta, Valencia, Spain (painting) by Prehistoric; eIberfoto; out of copyright

A Weaver of Long, Long Ago (litho)
5209753 A Weaver of Long, Long Ago (litho) by Greek Photographer, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: A Weaver of Long, Long Ago)

Prehistoric Camp, 1871 (w / c on paper)
741659 Prehistoric Camp, 1871 (w/c on paper) by Griset, Ernest Henry (1844-1907); Bromley Museum, Orpington, UK; Photo eHeini Schneebeli; English, out of copyright

For sale as Licensed Images

Choose your image, Select your licence and Download the media

Step back in time and explore the captivating world of cavemen, where primitive beings roamed the earth. In "Flying Elephants, " Edna Marion and Stan Laurel transport us to a bygone era filled with laughter and adventure. Meanwhile, Buster Keaton showcases his comedic genius as he hilariously attempts to conquer the game of golf in a silent film from 1923 called "Three Ages. " The contrast between our primate ancestors and modern humans is strikingly depicted through an intricate pencil drawing that captures both sets of hands. As we delve deeper into prehistory, we encounter intriguing reconstructions such as the enigmatic Piltdown Man and the stoic Neanderthal Man. Journeying further into ancient times, we witness mesmerizing engravings showcasing marine creatures like ichthyosaurs and plesiosaurs from 1872. The artistic expression takes on a different form with stylized-naturalistic murals depicting phallic dances during Mesolithic times. Mesolithic Rock Art transports us to Spain's Bicorp region, where breathtaking depictions of deer and goats adorn cave walls dating back thousands of years (8000-7000 BC). Vasnetsov's masterpiece "The Stone Age: A Feast" immerses us in a vibrant celebration capturing the essence of this era. Engravings from 1881 bring forth vivid imagery of cavemen living amidst nature's wonders while discovering fire - a pivotal moment in human history. These early humans also honored their departed loved ones with funeral banquets, paying homage to their ancestors' spirits. As we reflect upon these glimpses into our distant past, let us marvel at how far humanity has come since those primal days. The story of cavemen serves as a reminder that within each one of us lies an ancient connection to our roots—a testament to our resilience throughout time.