Chauvet Cave, 1994
In December 1994, three cave explorers moved aside a number of stones in the Ardeche Valley of southern France to make one of the greatest discoveries of prehistoric art in the history of archaeology. The cave is massive, totalling some 400 meters in length, with several distinct chambers.
The cave was in use as a ritual space and decorated during two different periods of time, but there is some conflict in the results of radiocarbon dating. The most recent radiocarbon dating results suggest that the cave was first in use between 37,000 and 35,000 years ago, and again between 31,000 and 28,000 years ago. The main entrance has been blocked since that time, preserving the art of Chauvet Cave. In addition, preservation efforts began immediately after the discovery of the cave and its artwork.
Artistically, these can be divided into two sections or significant parts. The first part of the cave consists of negative images of hands; paint was blown around the artist’s hands to create handprints on the cave walls. The deeper chamber of the cave contains a number of remarkable works of art, including many predatory animals and two partial human figures in the furthest parts of the cave. Both are unusual; most prehistoric cave paintings illustrate herbivores and prey animals, rather than predatory animals.
The two partial human figures are especially unusual. The lower body of a female figure is the subject of the gaze of a male figure, with human lower body and the upper body of a bison. The male figure is typically referred to as the sorcerer.
Since the cave itself is a protected space to prevent ongoing damage to the art, a massive replica of Chauvet Cave has been built. The reconstruction of the cave replicates the most important parts, including the cave paintings, for the public.