The Chauvet-Pont d'Arc cave

Early in 1995, the world learned of the dramatic discovery of the Chauvet-Pont d'Arc cave. Hundreds of animal paintings of outstanding aesthetic quality were found in the cave, in a region where several Ice Age painted caves were already known, but none of high quality. The species mainly depicted – woolly rhinoceros, cave lions, mammoths – were rare elsewhere. The cave's exceptional quality was further demonstrated a few months later when radiocarbon dating showed it to be the oldest painted cave in Europe. Since 1998, a team of scientists has been studying all its aspects. Jean Clottes was in charge of the project at first, until his colleague Jean-Michel Geneste took over. Here he recounts this amazing adventure.Par Jean Clottes.