General Discussion

Surya Gayatri

(15,445 posts) Thu Apr 9, 2015, 05:50 AM Apr 2015

Fantastic Chauvet Cave finally opens to public - discovered in 1994

36,000 years ago, hunter-gatherer groups in the Aurignacian period, homo sapiens like us, created a fabulous masterpiece on the walls of the Chauvet cave along the Ardèche Canyon in the heart of France.

More than 1000 figures, among the oldest known to date, were masterfully traced on rugged relief, including 442 animal figures: bison, big cats, rhinos and horses, executed in ocher and charcoal, with striking beauty and realism.

At the beginning of known figurative art, the main techniques are at work on the adorned walls: drawing, painting, engraving, fading, perspective, representation of movement and faithful transcription of ethological scenes (hunting, rut, mating rituals, etc.).

http://archeologie.culture.fr/chauvet/

http://www.lemonde.fr/sciences/article/2015/04/06/chauvet-de-l-original-a-la-copie_4610377_1650684.html?xtmc=grotte_de_chauvet&xtcr=1

26 replies

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Fantastic Chauvet Cave finally opens to public - discovered in 1994 (Original Post) Surya Gayatri Apr 2015 OP

Yet 6500 yrs ago art was still flat, what happened ? orpupilofnature57 Apr 2015 #1

Regression due to religious repression? LOL! Surya Gayatri Apr 2015 #2

You got it !! Thanks for the info. orpupilofnature57 Apr 2015 #3

Pleasure! Surya Gayatri Apr 2015 #4

As I read it, what is open to the public is a replica site that has been built near the actual cave. enough Apr 2015 #5

Exactly, that's why it's taken 20+ years to get it open. Surya Gayatri Apr 2015 #9

Why do I now picture a kid with cotton candy? Spitfire of ATJ Apr 2015 #22

Awesome! madokie Apr 2015 #6

Metaphorically magnificent! So glad you enjoyed it! Surya Gayatri Apr 2015 #7

I will as soon as I return from my real world of Morel hunting madokie Apr 2015 #8

Yuuummmm! They grow like weeds in France's forests, but Surya Gayatri Apr 2015 #10

We have a lot of hunters/gatherers here too madokie Apr 2015 #11

If I didn't live 'outre-atlantique', I'd invite myself over! LOL! Surya Gayatri Apr 2015 #12

And you'd be welcomed with open arms madokie Apr 2015 #13

(((((Hug)))))! Surya Gayatri Apr 2015 #14

Thank you for getting my day off to a wonderful start madokie Apr 2015 #15

For those who'd like to learn more, there's this from Omaha Steve: Surya Gayatri Apr 2015 #16

And then successor artists . . . MrModerate Apr 2015 #17

Like I said, regression due to one-dimensional religious indoctrination... Surya Gayatri Apr 2015 #24

36,000 years ago? Well that can't be true... ybbor Apr 2015 #18

Well, France invented the term 'avant-garde', LOL! Surya Gayatri Apr 2015 #19

Very cool, Surya. I would love to go see it. Dont call me Shirley Apr 2015 #20

Draw beautiful things, not your gun! YEEESSSSS! Surya Gayatri Apr 2015 #21

It looks like Carlsbad Caverns! Without the paintings. Beautiful. Dont call me Shirley Apr 2015 #26

Speechless here. Wow Autumn Apr 2015 #23

Take the virtual visit at the official site: Surya Gayatri Apr 2015 #25

orpupilofnature57

(15,472 posts)

1. Yet 6500 yrs ago art was still flat, what happened ?

Reply to Surya Gayatri (Original post)

Thu Apr 9, 2015, 06:05 AM

Apr 2015

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medieval_art#/media/File:Lorenzetti_amb.effect2.jpg

Surya Gayatri

(15,445 posts)

2. Regression due to religious repression? LOL!

Reply to orpupilofnature57 (Reply #1)

Thu Apr 9, 2015, 06:07 AM

Apr 2015

Fantastic hardly covers it.

Haunting, evocative, metaphorically magnificent. THIS IS US! Hands reaching for a higher reality.

orpupilofnature57

(15,472 posts)

3. You got it !! Thanks for the info.

Reply to Surya Gayatri (Reply #2)

Thu Apr 9, 2015, 06:22 AM

Apr 2015

Surya Gayatri

(15,445 posts)

4. Pleasure!

Reply to orpupilofnature57 (Reply #3)

Thu Apr 9, 2015, 06:26 AM

Apr 2015

enough

(13,265 posts)

5. As I read it, what is open to the public is a replica site that has been built near the actual cave.

Reply to Surya Gayatri (Original post)

Thu Apr 9, 2015, 07:42 AM

Apr 2015

http://www.france.fr/en/art-and-culture/chauvet-pont-darc-cave-replica-site-open-public-end-2014.html

Discovered on 18 December 1994 by speleologists Jean-Marie Chauvet, Eliette Brunel and Christian Hillaire, the Chauvet cave in the Ardèche region of France contains the world's oldest known cave paintings, dating back 36,000 years. The replica site will open its doors to the public at the end of 2014, after 30 months of work.

A major and unique site in the history of humanity

Miraculously protected from the world thanks to the summit of the cliff sheltering it collapsed, hermetically sealing the entrance for more than 20,000 years, the Chauvet Pont-d'Arc cave combines three characteristics that are rarely present together: its age (it dates back 36,000 years , compared with 17,000 years for Lascaux), its state of preservation and its wealth.

snip>

The Chauvet Pont-d'Arc cave replica site

In order to enable the public to enjoy the treasures of the Chauvet cave, a perfect replica is currently being designed. The Razal site, on the hills of the Vallon-Pont-d'Arc, seven kilometres from the cave, was selected as the location for the replica and is due to open its doors to the public at the end of 2014. It will be the biggest perfect replica of a prehistoric site in Europe. The target is to welcome between 300,000 and 400,000 visitors from around the world each year. Set within a vast wooded area covering 29 hectares, the site will include (alongside the replica cave) a discovery centre and a permanent exhibition dedicated to the Aurignacians and wall art, as well as five sheltered interpretation stations, a temporary exhibition space, an educational area for young people, an events centre, etc.

snip>

Surya Gayatri

(15,445 posts)

9. Exactly, that's why it's taken 20+ years to get it open.

Reply to enough (Reply #5)

Thu Apr 9, 2015, 07:59 AM

Apr 2015

Thanks for the extra info.

See here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1016119706#post2

A major and unique site in the history of humanity

Spitfire of ATJ

(32,723 posts)

22. Why do I now picture a kid with cotton candy?

Reply to enough (Reply #5)

Thu Apr 9, 2015, 08:48 AM

Apr 2015

madokie

(51,076 posts)

6. Awesome!

Reply to Surya Gayatri (Original post)

Thu Apr 9, 2015, 07:44 AM

Apr 2015

Thank you so much.

Surya Gayatri

(15,445 posts)

7. Metaphorically magnificent! So glad you enjoyed it!

Reply to madokie (Reply #6)

Thu Apr 9, 2015, 07:50 AM

Apr 2015

Go to the official site for a virtual tour...

http://archeologie.culture.fr/chauvet/

http://archeologie.culture.fr/chauvet/fr/visiter-grotte

madokie

(51,076 posts)

8. I will as soon as I return from my real world of Morel hunting

Reply to Surya Gayatri (Reply #7)

Thu Apr 9, 2015, 07:57 AM

Apr 2015

so far this season we, my brother and I, have found 537 morel mushrooms.
I've been chasing after the all illusive Morel for 40 some odd years where my brother is a recent convert to the joys of finding one of natures wonders.
Peace

Surya Gayatri

(15,445 posts)

10. Yuuummmm! They grow like weeds in France's forests, but

Reply to madokie (Reply #8)

Thu Apr 9, 2015, 08:02 AM

Apr 2015

everybody has the same idea to go mushroom hunting--so there's never anything left.

madokie

(51,076 posts)

11. We have a lot of hunters/gatherers here too

Reply to Surya Gayatri (Reply #10)

Thu Apr 9, 2015, 08:05 AM

Apr 2015

but I keep on keeping on looking and sometimes finding.
Lightly dusted with flour, fried in butter at a low temperature so they cook without being crispy is to die for.

Surya Gayatri

(15,445 posts)

12. If I didn't live 'outre-atlantique', I'd invite myself over! LOL!

Reply to madokie (Reply #11)

Thu Apr 9, 2015, 08:07 AM

Apr 2015

madokie

(51,076 posts)

13. And you'd be welcomed with open arms

Reply to Surya Gayatri (Reply #12)

Thu Apr 9, 2015, 08:11 AM

Apr 2015

Surya Gayatri

(15,445 posts)

14. (((((Hug)))))!

Reply to madokie (Reply #13)

Thu Apr 9, 2015, 08:11 AM

Apr 2015

madokie

(51,076 posts)

15. Thank you for getting my day off to a wonderful start

Reply to Surya Gayatri (Reply #14)

Thu Apr 9, 2015, 08:15 AM

Apr 2015

Surya Gayatri

(15,445 posts)

16. For those who'd like to learn more, there's this from Omaha Steve:

Reply to Surya Gayatri (Original post)

Thu Apr 9, 2015, 08:15 AM

Apr 2015

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1016119706#post2

MrModerate

(9,753 posts)

17. And then successor artists . . .

Reply to Surya Gayatri (Original post)

Thu Apr 9, 2015, 08:29 AM

Apr 2015

Lost many of those techniques for the next 30-some thousand years.

Surya Gayatri

(15,445 posts)

24. Like I said, regression due to one-dimensional religious indoctrination...

Reply to MrModerate (Reply #17)

Thu Apr 9, 2015, 09:00 AM

Apr 2015

ybbor

(1,556 posts)

18. 36,000 years ago? Well that can't be true...

Reply to Surya Gayatri (Original post)

Thu Apr 9, 2015, 08:30 AM

Apr 2015

Everyone knows the Earth is only 6200 years old, and how could it be in France? Adam and Eve's arms weren't that long, there is no way they could have been there and the Garden of Eden, too.
(Do I need the sarcasm thingy?)

No, but really very amazing and awesome treasure.