The Cosquer Cave Filled With Paintings Is Hidden Deep Underwater!
The Cosquer Cave is a significant prehistoric underwater site near Marseille, France. Discovered by diver Henri Cosquer in 1985, this cave is renowned for its exceptional collection of prehistoric art. Submerged about 37 meters (121 feet) beneath the Mediterranean Sea, the cave’s artworks offer a unique glimpse into the artistic expressions and daily life of early humans during the Upper Paleolithic period.
The cave’s entrance, submerged due to rising sea levels, has preserved its artworks remarkably well. The Cosquer Cave provides valuable insights into prehistoric life and art through its extensive collection of paintings and carvings. Although authorities restricted direct access to the cave due to its location and fragile condition, a detailed replica allows the public to explore and appreciate this extraordinary site. Let us now look at the discovery of this strange prehistoric monument and its secrets.
Discovery and History of Cosquer Cave
Henri Cosquer, a French diver, discovered the cave in 1985 while exploring near Cape Morgiou. The cave’s entrance, now underwater, indicates it was once above sea level during the last Ice Age, around 27,000 years ago. Cosquer initially kept his discovery private due to the cave’s remote and hazardous location. The cave gained wider attention in 1991 following a tragic incident in which three divers died in the cave. This event led to increased interest and awareness about the cave’s significance.
The Cosquer Cave is named after its discoverer, Henri Cosquer. Researchers studied the cave’s artwork and documented it through various expeditions, and experts recognized it as an important prehistoric site. The underwater location has helped to preserve the cave’s art which has protected it from many of the environmental and human impacts that other sites have suffered.
What’s Inside the Cosquer Cave?
Inside the Cosquer Cave, there are over 200 artworks from the Upper Paleolithic era, dated between 27,000 and 19,000 years ago. The cave features a diverse array of paintings and carvings, including:
Animal Paintings
Detailed depictions of animals adorn the walls of the cave. Among these are horses, bison, and ibexes. Horses are the most represented animals with 63 specimens, followed by 28 ibex, 17 deer, 10 bison, and 7 aurochs. The horses often have flowing lines. This suggests movement, while they depicted bison with fine details. These representations provide valuable insights into the fauna of the Ice Age and the relationship between early humans and their environment.
Marine Life
The cave includes paintings of marine creatures such as seals and jellyfish. The jellyfish images are particularly notable for being among the earliest known representations of marine life in prehistoric art. These depictions suggest that the cave’s creators had significant interactions with their coastal environment and observed marine life closely. We see depictions of 9 seals, jellyfish, fish, or cetaceans.
Hand Stencils and Abstract Art
We find numerous hand stencils throughout the cave. Ancient people created these by placing their hands against the wall and blowing pigment around them, resulting in a negative impression. Experts think that these stencils might have symbolic or ritualistic meanings. The cave also features abstract patterns and geometric shapes, adding another layer of complexity to the artwork. The cave has 65 negative hands, 44 black and 21 red, made using the stencil technique
Engravings of Extinct Birds
Engravings of extinct species, such as the great auk, are present in the cave. These engravings provide evidence of the biodiversity that existed when the ancients used the cave. They offer insights into the fauna that inhabited the region and contribute to our understanding of prehistoric ecosystems.
Who made them?
The cave’s underwater environment has helped to preserve these artworks in excellent condition. The art is spread across various chambers and passages within the cave, each revealing aspects of prehistoric life and creativity. The cave’s remote location has protected it from many of the threats other archaeological sites face. In all researchers have uncovered a total of 177 animals belonging to 11 species.
As with other decorated caves, the motivation for the paintings and engravings remains completely unknown. One can only speculate, for example, that the cave was a sanctuary for Upper Paleolithic men.
Visiting the Cosquer Cave
Direct visits to the original Cosquer Cave are not possible due to its underwater location and the associated risks. The cave is protected to prevent damage to its delicate artworks. Only a select group of scientists and conservationists can access the cave under strict conditions to conduct research and preservation work. Archaeologists assisted by a topographer equipped with state of art equipment carried out a very detailed multi-layer three-dimensional survey using a high-precision rotating 3D laser scanner inside the cavity. The very fine digitization (down to a few micrometers ) in 5 superimposed layers of increasing resolution, according to the detail requirements, made it possible to create a very faithful partial replica of some of the most striking parietal works in the cave.
The Replica of Cosquer Cave
To make the cave’s art accessible to the public, a full-scale replica of the Cosquer Cave was opened in Marseille in June 2022. This replica accurately recreates the cave’s interior and its prehistoric artworks. The replica allows visitors to experience the cave’s art and understand its significance without impacting the original site. The replica includes detailed recreations of the cave’s paintings, carvings, and other features, providing an immersive educational experience. One year after its opening in June 2022, the site has found its audience: 809,196 visitors were recorded for an initial forecast of 600,000.
Conclusion
The Cosquer Cave remains a crucial site for understanding prehistoric art and human history. Although the original cave is hidden underwater, the replica ensures that its ancient artworks can be appreciated and studied by a global audience. The cave’s preservation and the efforts to recreate it offer valuable insights into early human creativity and the environment they lived in.
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