Datations 36Cl de la fermeture de la grotte Chauvet, implications géomorphologiques et archéologiques

A groundbreaking study reveals that the Chauvet Cave, renowned for its prehistoric art and archaeological significance, was sealed off approximately 22,000 years ago due to a series of sudden rockfalls. This finding challenges traditional chronological frameworks by providing an absolute timeline for the cave's closure, extending its human occupation back to 34,000 years. The research utilized a combination of high-resolution topographic surveys (terrestrial LiDAR) and cosmogenic dating (36Cl) to analyze rockfall scars and deposits, reconstructing the cave's paleo entrance. This method offers a precise geomorphological and archaeological context, shedding new light on the cave's history and its implications for understanding human behavior during the Upper Paleolithic period.

Sadier, B., Benedetti, L., Delannoy, J.-J., Bourlès, D., Jaillet, S., Arnaud, J., Jarry, B., Vermorel, G., & Geneste, J.-M. (2012). Datations 36Cl de la fermeture de la grotte Chauvet, implications géomorphologiques et archéologiques. Collection EDYTEM. Cahiers de Géographie, 13(1), 63–78. https://doi.org/10.3406/edyte.2012.1205