Further constraints on the Chauvet cave artwork elaboration

A groundbreaking study using 36 Cl Cosmic Ray Exposure dating reveals that the Chauvet cave, home to some of the oldest and most elaborate Palaeolithic artworks, underwent multiple cliff collapses between 29,000 and 21,000 years ago. These findings confirm that the cave's artwork predates previously established chronological benchmarks, challenging our understanding of human cognitive evolution during the Aurignacian and Gravettian periods. By integrating geological evidence with radiocarbon dates, researchers provide a robust timeline for human occupation and artistic expression in this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Sadier, B., Delannoy, J.-J., Benedetti, L., Bourlès, D. L., Jaillet, S., Geneste, J.-M., Lebatard, A.-E., & Arnold, M. (2012). Further constraints on the Chauvet cave artwork elaboration. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 109(21), 8002–8006. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1118593109