There is not a direct yes or no answer to this question. The answer is entangled between yes and no. Back a few years ago in history class, I learned about Ancient History (from Pre-History to the Age of Exploration). I believe that most of the history I learned back then was waste, because people don’t need to know about the Ancient Egyptians or Mayans to succeed later in their life. I also learned (at that time) the oldest human ever found was Lucy. I had to memorize that fact for our quiz, but a few months later, an even older human fossil was found, callled Ardi. Therefore what I memorized for the test was useless. 

But there is information that would be useful for us in our history study. For example, the Stock Market Crash of 1929 may give us some tips on investing in the Stock Market in the future. Other examples may include understanding communism and capitalism, may help us improve our political systems, today. 

The Verdict

There are some topics in history that students should learn and other topics students should not be required to learn at school.

The Lascaux II cave was built near the original cave to protect the original cave’s paintings from outside elements. The two portions that were re-built, the Bull’s Room and the Central Corridor, contain most of the paintings.

For some perspective, some people think that 17,000 years is a long time. In the time it took to form an inch of soil, the Lascaux Caves were painted AND Richard Leaky discovered Lucy in northern Kenya.

As early as we know, humans have communicated their deepest feelings through art. The discovery of Lascaux proves that point.

NASA Quest has been taking people back to Lascaux II “to see how the art of the Ice Age lets us explore the mind, beliefs and society-styles on early humans.” These society-styles may give us an interesting look into the era of the Lascaux Cave Painters.