Cosquer Cave

Cosquer Cave

In 1985, while scuba diving in Cape Morgiou, near Marseilles, France, Henri Cosquer discovered a narrow 175-meter, air-filled tunnel 37 meters below the sea (“The Cosquer Cave”). The tunnel, unbeknownst to him, lead to one of the world’s most treasured Paleolithic art-filled caves.

During the Paleolithic age, Cosquer cave was much more accessible than it is today. Researchers say that at the times the art was created, the cave was probably only 11 kilometers from the coast and 80 meters above sea level (Jaobs). Since then, the giant glaciers of the period have melted and the Mediterranean Sea has risen, preserving this magnificent display of ancient art.

Oblivious to the historical importance of his find, Cosquer kept the cave secret until a return visit in July of 1991 when he sighted what seemed to be a red, stenciled human hand painted on the side of the cave (Clottes 14). Excited by this discovery, Cosquer invited several fellow divers including Yann Gogan, Jean-Claude Cayol, Pascal Oriol, Cendrine Cosquer, and Thierry Pélissier to further examine the cave with him (Clottes 14). The hand, as it turned out, was only the first of approximately 142 ancient paintings and engravings that appear on the walls and ceilings of Cosquer cave (“Accessing Cosquer Cave”).

The cave consists of several narrow tunnels, some of which are less than one meter high, and two main chambers that are covered with calcite crystals (Clottes 48). Throughout the cave are finger grooves, which the artists were able to carve into the weather-softened stone walls (Clottes 59).

After recording proof of the discovery, Henri Cosquer informed the French Ministry of Culture. They assigned Jean Clottes and Jean Courtin to study the cave for further research.

In the last nine years scientists and archaeologists have performed approximately two dozen radiocarbon datings (Jaobs). This makes Cosquer the most extensively dated cave in the world (“Accessing Cosquer Cave”).

Through these thorough studies, researchers have discovered that the images were created during two separate phases. The first phase dates around –27,000, and includes the handprints and some geometric designs that were found (Duckeck). After that, there is an 8000 year gap in which no one seems to have used the cave (Jaobs). The second phase is between -19,000 and –18,000. It was in this phase that the animal images were created (Duckeck).

Of the images depicted in the cave, over two-thirds are engraved and most are of horses (Duckeck).