What is La Grotte Chauvet?
The Chauvet-Pont-d’Arc Cave (French: Grotte Chauvet-Pont d’Arc, French pronunciation: [ɡʁɔt ʃovɛ pɔ̃ daʁk]) in the Ardèche department of southeastern France is a cave that contains some of the best-preserved figurative cave paintings in the world, as well as other evidence of Upper Paleolithic life.
How old is the Grotte Chauvet?
The dating of the finds and drawings has been confirmed by C14 analysis as between 32,000 and 30,000 years BP, and the materials, designs, drawing techniques and traces of workmanship date back to this time.
Who discovered La Grotte Chauvet?
Jean-Marie Chauvet
On Sunday 18 December 1994, on the Cirque d’Estre, Jean-Marie Chauvet, led his two friends Éliette Brunel and Christian Hillaire towards the cliffs: a slight breeze coming out of a small hole, at the end of a little cave drew his attention, and he wanted to investigate.
Can you tour Chauvet Cave?
All practical information to help organise your visit to the Grotte Chauvet 2 Ardèche and make the most of your day. From September 1, all tours are guided or commented using a downloadable mobile application. Choose your tour mode when you book online: In the morning and afternoon: enjoy guided tours.
Is the Chauvet cave open to public?
These mesmerising caves are open to the public and contain art almost as old as the paintings of Chauvet – and similarly special. To stand before a painted mammoth in Pech-Merle is an overwhelming encounter both with an extinct mammal and the mind that portrayed it.
What does the Chauvet cave have to say about prehistoric humans?
Following a new discovery, the abstract details in France’s Chauvet Caves paintings, created by early humans 36,000 years ago, are thought to depict a volcanic eruption, scientists say. “It is very likely that humans living in the Ardèche river area witnessed one or several eruptions,” Geneste said.
What animals are depicted in the Chauvet Cave?
Along with cave bears (which were far larger than grizzly bears), the lions, mammoths, and rhinos account for 63 percent of the identified animals, a huge percentage compared to later periods of cave art. Horses, bison, ibex, reindeer, red deer, aurochs, Megaceros deer, musk-oxen, panther, and owl are also represented.
Why did cavemen paint on cave walls?
Prehistoric man could have used the painting of animals on the walls of caves to document their hunting expeditions. Prehistoric people would have used natural objects to paint the walls of the caves. To etch into the rock, they could have used sharp tools or a spear.