Hidden charcoal reveals the true age of ancient cave paintings
Scientists have successfully dated prehistoric cave paintings in France by identifying and analyzing charcoal hidden within the pigments. This breakthrough allows researchers to accurately determine the age of artwork that was previously considered impossible to date.
Why it matters
This methodology provides a new tool for archaeologists to reconstruct the timeline of human artistic development and cave usage during the Ice Age.
For the first time, scientists have accurately determined the age of prehistoric paintings inside Font-de-Gaume, a celebrated decorated cave near Les Eyzies in Dordogne (southwestern France).
The new findings provide firm dates for two black images, a bison and a masklike figure, and reveal that parts of the artwork were created during widely separated periods. The results could give archaeologists a powerful new way to reconstruct when people entered decorated caves, made paintings, and returned to alter or add to them.
Why Ice Age Cave Paintings Are Difficult to Date
Dordogne is home to some of the best-known prehistoric art in Europe, including the paintings at Lascaux. Yet determining exactly when many of these images were created has remained extremely difficult.
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