Bradshaw Foundation Cave Art Paintings News
Bradshaw Foundation Cave Art Paintings News
Bradshaw Foundation Cave Art Paintings News
Bradshaw Foundation - Latest News
Cosquer cave replica underway
Thursday 01 April 2021

An article by Mario García Sánchez on laprensalatina.com - Experts work against clock to preserve, recreate Cosquer Cave paintings - reports on the creation of a replica of the cave of Cosquer, located in the Calanque de Morgiou near Cap Morgiou, France.

Cosquer Cave paintings replica France Ice Age
Lorena Acin (left) working on the replica of the Cosquer Cave. Image: EFE/ Mario García Sánchez. French professional diver Henri Cosquer (right) discovered the underwater Cosquer cave in 1985 in the Calanques of Marseille. Image: GERARD JULIEN /AFP

The cave system in southwest France, accessible only through a submerged tunnel, is home to more than 500 examples of prehistoric art dating to between 33,000 to 19,000 years ago, when the coastline was some 120 meters lower than today. The cave entrance flooded after the Ice Age.

Article continues below
Article continues

Specialists are working to create a replica of the cave, the walls of which are adorned with depictions of marine life such as seals, jellyfish and auks. There are also other depictions of bison, ibex and horses, as well as numerous hand stencils in red and black pigment. The cave also has engravings and geometric patterns.

Cosquer Cave paintings replica France Ice Age
Diving into the depths of the Cosquer Cave. Image: Jean Clottes

Only a fifth of the cave system, which covers an area of roughly 2,500 square meters, remains above sea level. The rising sea levels at the end of the Ice Age caused much of the cave’s artwork to disappear.

Cosquer Cave paintings replica France Ice Age
The head of a horse drawn on to a stalagmite. Image: Jean Clottes

The cave was discovered by scuba diver Henri Cosquer in 1985, by making his way along the 175m. tunnel, the entrance of which is 35 meters under the sea.

Authorities in Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur have launched an initiative in collaboration with the Kléber Rossillon society to build a replica of the cave and its paintings. Déco Diffusion, art specialists based in the city of Toulouse, has been tasked with replicating the paintings using photographic references and 3D technology.

Click here for more on the Cosquer cave

Cave Painting
Capturing the art of Cosquer
by Bradshaw Foundation
Monday 30 May 2022
Hand Stencils in Chhattisgarh
by Bradshaw Foundation
Wednesday 19 January 2022
New U-series dating of rock art in China
by Bradshaw Foundation
Thursday 06 January 2022
New approach to research in Australia
by Bradshaw Foundation
Monday 06 December 2021
Color begets life
by Bradshaw Foundation
Monday 29 November 2021
Sulawesi rock art
by Bradshaw Foundation
Monday 25 October 2021
Protecting Utyetye rock art
by Bradshaw Foundation
Monday 12 July 2021
A lockdown obsession with cave paintings
by Bradshaw Foundation
Monday 24 May 2021
What Sulawesi cave art reveals
by Bradshaw Foundation
Tuesday 20 April 2021
Cosquer cave replica underway
by Bradshaw Foundation
Thursday 01 April 2021
Oldest date for Aboriginal rock art
by Bradshaw Foundation
Tuesday 23 February 2021
Oldest cave painting found in Indonesia
by Bradshaw Foundation
Thursday 14 January 2021
Chauvet discovered 26 years ago today
by Bradshaw Foundation
Friday 18 December 2020
Response to 'discovery' claims in Colombia
by Bradshaw Foundation
Sunday 06 December 2020
Drug use and human creativity
by Bradshaw Foundation
Thursday 26 November 2020
Cave art discovered in Thailand
by Bradshaw Foundation
Wednesday 07 October 2020
Follow the Bradshaw Foundation on social media for news & updates
Follow the Bradshaw Foundation
on social media for news & updates
Follow the Bradshaw Foundation on social media for news & updates
Follow the Bradshaw Foundation
on social media for news & updates
If you have enjoyed visiting this website
please consider adding a link © Bradshaw Foundation
 
 
ROCK ART NETWORK
Rock Art Network Bradshaw Foundation Getty Conservation Institute
CAVE PAINTINGS
Capturing the art of Cosquer
by Bradshaw Foundation
Monday 30 May 2022
Hand Stencils in Chhattisgarh
by Bradshaw Foundation
Wednesday 19 January 2022
New U-series dating of rock art in China
by Bradshaw Foundation
Thursday 06 January 2022
New approach to research in Australia
by Bradshaw Foundation
Monday 06 December 2021
Color begets life
by Bradshaw Foundation
Monday 29 November 2021
Sulawesi rock art
by Bradshaw Foundation
Monday 25 October 2021
Protecting Utyetye rock art
by Bradshaw Foundation
Monday 12 July 2021
A lockdown obsession with cave paintings
by Bradshaw Foundation
Monday 24 May 2021
What Sulawesi cave art reveals
by Bradshaw Foundation
Tuesday 20 April 2021
Cosquer cave replica underway
by Bradshaw Foundation
Thursday 01 April 2021
Oldest date for Aboriginal rock art
by Bradshaw Foundation
Tuesday 23 February 2021
Oldest cave painting found in Indonesia
by Bradshaw Foundation
Thursday 14 January 2021
Chauvet discovered 26 years ago today
by Bradshaw Foundation
Friday 18 December 2020
Response to 'discovery' claims in Colombia
by Bradshaw Foundation
Sunday 06 December 2020
Drug use and human creativity
by Bradshaw Foundation
Thursday 26 November 2020
Cave art discovered in Thailand
by Bradshaw Foundation
Wednesday 07 October 2020
Bradshaw Foundation Donate Friends
Support our work & become a
Friend of the Foundation
 
 
Bradshaw Foundation Facebook
 
Bradshaw Foundation YouTube
Bradshaw Foundation iShop Shop Store
Bradshaw Foundation iShop Shop Store
Bradshaw Foundation iShop Shop Store