Chauvet Cave

Carole Fritz is a renowned archaeologist and specialist in prehistoric art, particularly European Paleolithic art. She was a member of the pioneering team that first explored this cave in 1998, under the direction of Jean Clottes. Since 2018, she has been leading the scientific team working in the cave. She conducts her research at Sorbonne University (Paris) and at the Maison des Sciences de l’Homme (Toulouse). With contributions from the research team handling Chauvet Cave study.

• 7 ForewordIsabelle MassebeufPresident of the SMERGC9 PreambleCarole Fritz11 IntroductionAn Intriguing “Pre-History” of Art11 An Exceptional Discovery16 The Research Team18 The Conservation of Decorated CavesGeneviève Pinçon and Marie-Blanche PotteWHAT IS PREHISTORIC ART?24 Time Frame26 Climate27 Neanderthal and Homo sapiens31 Paleolithic ArtIN THE HEART OF CHAUVET CAVE47 Humans and Animals47 The Animal Presence48 Wolves | Philippe Fosse52 Bears | Philippe Fosse61 The Human Presence61 The Remains of Human Activities61 Manipulating Bones65 Manipulating Rocks67 Fire and Light71 Other Remains73 The Dynamics of Human and Animal Presence74 Establishing a Chronology and Dating the ArtHélène Valladas77 A Tour of the Cave80 The Prehistoric Entrance and its Evolution Over TimeJean-Jacques Delannoy84 Near the Prehistoric Entrance, Before the Sill84 The Brunel Chamber94 The Chamber of the Bear Hollows and the Cactus Gallery106 The Red Panels Gallery112 In the Deep Chambers and Galleries112 The Hillaire Chamber132 The Skull Chamber139 The Megaloceros Gallery145 The End Chamber159 The Sacristy Gallery164 Understanding the Art of Chauvet Cave166 From Floors to Ceilings. 3D Contributions to ResearchThomas Sagory170 The Bestiary of Chauvet Cave177 From the Materials to the Artistic Gesture177 White Drawings179 Red Drawings183 Black Drawings188 From Artistic Gesture to Interpretation192 The Panel of the Lions: a History/Story, a MythConclusion194 Chauvet Cave, Humanity’s First Art196 A Chronological Approach to Art that Must Change198 A Different Vision of Our Relationshipswith the Animal World200 Chauvet 2: Between Research and Public EngagementGilles Tosello and Valérie MolesAnnexes206 Bibliography

Select Guide Rating