Les aménagements et structures anthropiques de la grotte Chauvet-Pont d'Arc. Apport d'une approche intégrative géomorpho-archéologique

A groundbreaking study of the Chauvet-Pont d'Arc cave reveals that its subterranean landscape contains numerous intentional human modifications, challenging previous assumptions about prehistoric cave use. Researchers identified structured elements like basins, steps, and alignments of blocks as anthropogenic through an integrative approach combining geomorphology and archaeology. This method distinguished natural formations from those shaped by human activity, offering new insights into the cognitive and social dimensions of Upper Paleolithic behavior. The findings suggest that prehistoric humans not only created parietal art but also actively engineered their cave environments, reshaping our understanding of their interaction with these spaces.

Delannoy, J.-J., Geneste, J.-M., Jaillet, S., Boche, É., & Sadier, B. (2012). Les aménagements et structures anthropiques de la grotte Chauvet-Pont d’Arc. Apport d’une approche intégrative géomorpho-archéologique. Collection EDYTEM. Cahiers de Géographie, 13(1), 43–62. https://doi.org/10.3406/edyte.2012.1204