Cavemen—Fact or Fiction?

“Were cavemen real?”

That’s a great question.

Cavemen are often shown in movies, books, and ads. But did they actually exist? God’s Word, the history book of the universe, has the answer!

First, let’s talk about what the word “cavemen” means. Some people believe that the first humans lived in caves, so they call them “cavemen.” They also believe that people and apes are related and that these early humans were more closely related to an apelike ancestor than we are. Because of this, they think that ancient humans were simple, brutish, and not very smart.

But the Bible teaches that humans and animals—including apes—were created separately. God created humans in his image and gave us dominion (authority) over animals and all of creation. The first people, Adam and Eve, and their children were no less intelligent than you or me!

Humans have been capable and creative since the beginning. The book of Genesis describes ancient humans who were gardeners, musicians, builders, and metal workers. Sure, some humans throughout history have made homes inside caves. (Some still do today!) But that doesn’t mean ancient humans were dumb brutes who went around grunting and hunting.

People have lived in caves simply because they wanted or needed to. We find several examples in the Bible. After God scattered the people from the tower of Babel, some might have found temporary shelter in caves. Men in the Bible such as Lot (Genesis 19:30), David (1 Samuel 22:1–24:7), and Elijah (1 Kings 19:9–13) spent time living in caves. Obadiah hid prophets in a cave (1 Kings 18:4). The Israelites escaped the Midianites by living in caves (Judges 6:2).

Archaeologists have discovered ancient tools, cave paintings, and other items made by early humans. These discoveries confirm what the Bible says—our ancestors were intelligent, just like us!