An Exhibition of the Prehistoric Art and Culture of Prehistoric Man: A Month in Provence Pt 5
© Mary Ellen Bradshaw
December 1994:
Imagine the awe and excitement Jean- Marie Chauvet, Christian Hillaire and Eliette Brunel-Deschames experienced, as they first viewed Chauvet-Pont-d’Arc Cave, they found in the gorges of Ardeche River. After squeezing thought a tiny aperture they entered a huge underground network of adjoining galleries approximatly 500 meters long. Some of the galleries are up to thirty meters wide and ten meters high. On the walls there are exquisite drawings and engravings representing over 300 different animals and interspersed are positive and negative views of human palm prints.
There is a huge diversity of techniques and art of such sophistication and aesthetic quality, that the cave could undoubtedly become a major site for primitive art. It is also the oldest art discovered to date, untouched for twenty to thirty thousand years.
The integrity of the cave was saved because of erosion, which caused a rock fall covering the original openings. The three experienced local spelunkers, using their extensive knowledge of prehistory,locality and subterranean milieu were directed to this amazing treasure trove. Also, knowing the fragile climate of their find,they made their way through the cave with as little desecration as possible.
The cave had obviously been well used in prehistoric times, sheltering a huge diversity of animals including cave bears. The paintings and engravings were done during a time when the area’s climatic environment was tundra, a cold climate where wildlife such as the wooly mammoths, polar foxes, cave bears, horses and many others thrived. Three hundred animals are represented here, including the rare drawings of an owl, panther and hyena.
The artist is our ancestor Cro-Magnon man, who thirty thousand years ago created these works of art. For fifteen thousand years he developed and perfected his craft. These prehistoric nomads spent their winters on the Mediterranean and would come to the region each summer to hunt. Chauvet-Pont d’Arc Cave was at the terminus of seasonal migration routes of many of these mammals.
Inside the cave there are hundreds of traces of animal movements as well as the marks and prints of man. There are droppings and bones, some which have been moved, placed on rocks and under the painted walls, possibly as part of ritual or religious ceremonies.
Because of the delicate balance of this untouched environment and lessons learned in other caves, Chauvet-pont-d'Arc has very reststricted access and will probably never be open to the general public. However, with new technologies scholars and experts of many disciplines will be able to study and learn from this amazing place and it’s art, without detriment to its environment. Who knows what secrets of the life of prehistoric man will be discovered. Also due to virtual technology, an exact virtual replica of the cave is to be constructed and will allow us all to get a feel of an encounter with our prehistoric ancestor and his art.
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