The Cosquer Cave Discovery

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The Cosquer Cave Discovery

A long, long time ago, 27,000 years ago to be exact, during the glacial period, glaciers over a kilometer deep spanned the country of France from the Alps to the Haute Provence. These glaciers held so much water that they caused the sea level in the Mediterranean Sea to drop well over 100 meters. Prehistoric humans found the entrance to Cosquer cave not far from the seashore and some entered to paint inside it. During this time, men created wonderful pictures on the walls of the cave. But, as the earth warmed up, the sea level began to rise and 17,000 years later the entry to Cosquer cave was completely underwater. The water continued to rise and at present time the cave’s entrance is 37 meters below the level of the sea.

This is the incredible story of Cosquer Cave and its discovery. It was a discovery so unexpected that it was believed to be a deception. Read on as I share with you my own discoveries as I, have explored Cosquer Cave.

In 1991, a diver by the name of Henri Cosquer from Cassis discovered the cave that is now named for him. His discovery was so extraordinary and unexpected that some scientists believed it to be a deception or very probably a farce. But soon after his discovery scientists using modern procedures performed datings that confirmed Cosquer’s discovery. Henri Cosquer had discovered and important archeological site!

The cave is located at Cape Morgiou in the Calanques, near Marseilles. Underwater access to the cave is extremely treacherous, taking explorers through a tunnel 175 meters in length and 37 meters under sea level. As a safety precaution and in order to preserve the site, the entry passage to the cave has now been blocked. However, a three-dimensional reproduction of the cave was created by Electricite de France, allowing a “virtual visit.”

Past dives organized by the French Ministry of Culture have revealed the cave walls to be decorated with a variety of land animals including horses, ibex, shamois, bison, wild ox, megaloceros, and red deer.

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