One of the most famous examples of prehistoric cave paintings is on show in South Africa. The paintings date back to the Stone Ages. They were discovered in the Lascaux caves in France, in 1940. South Africa is famous for its rock art -- and examples of the two ancient types of artwork are being exhibited side by side. CGTN's Yolisa Njamela has more.

It's a celebration of the earliest artworks created by humans on two continents. Historians say the world's first examples of art and symbolism found in Southern Africa, are more than a hundred thousand years old, While Europe is home to some of the world's most well-preserved prehistoric cave-art sites. This is the first time that the Lascaux paintings are being exhibited alongside the oldest African art.

DR. SAM CHALLIS ROCK ART RESEARCH INSTITUTE, WITS UNIVERSITY "Because the Lascaux paintings are so famous worldwide, it's a very good time to showcase both the European and our own Southern African rock art at the same time and to compare and contrast and talk about things which we all have in common that make us all human."

The exhibition was brought here to Johannesburg by Sci-Bono Discovery Centre in collaboration with the French embassy and the French Institute of SA.

YOLISA NJAMELA JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA "These cave paintings are around 17 000 years old. They are regarded as masterpieces because of their outstanding quality and sophistication."

THOMAS VERNET-HABASQUE, RESEARCH HEAD FRENCH INSTITUTE OF SOUTH AFRICA "Art and symbolic expression were invented in Southern African and especially in South Africa from what we know so we have this very old heritage in South Africa but we also have this old rock art heritage in France and the idea is to highlight both and have a dialogue. A scientific dialogue between both heritage and also to show this heritage to the public and highlight the fact that we share this common heritage, the origins of art here in South Africa and what it became also elsewhere in the world and especially in France."

The South African component of the exhibition is called The Dawn of Art. It showcases how Africa's innovative forebears created the earliest rock-art masterpieces hundreds of years ago. It includes photographs of iconic South African rock art, as well as a display of priceless authentic pieces.

DR. TAMMY HODGSKISS, CURATOR ORIGINS CENTRE, WITS UNIVERSITY "So we wanted the dawn of art exhibition to give a little bit of context to the Lascaux caves and so this showcases some of the amazing art that we find in South Africa from the rock art to the earliest evidence of art in the world which is found in South Africa - engraved ostrich eggshell, engraved ochres and the creation of ochre paint."

The exhibition will be displayed here until the end of October. Yolisa Njamela, CGTN, Johannesburg, South Africa.