Hundreds of depictions of ancient creatures and females adorn the walls of a cavern in southwestern France. Each year, for four weeks, scientists are granted access to document this site.
In the depths of a winding cave located in southwestern France, early humans from approximately 30,000 years ago etched images of horses, mammoths, and rhinoceroses onto the walls, revealing an extraordinary collection of Ice Age creatures seldom witnessed before this point.
Found in 2000 by an amateur spelunker, the Grotte de Cussac located within the Dordogne region houses old human remains, remnants of extinct bears, along with delicate and remarkable artwork which those who protect this site strive diligently to safeguard.
Usually, the French authorities limit entry to the cave for researchers, who are permitted to access it only during a four-week period each year.
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The authorities are eager to prevent a recurrence of the damage inflicted on France.
Lascaux caves
By microorganisms carried in by visitors.
The Lascaux caves, situated in Dordogne as well, have artworks believed to be several millennia more recent than those found at Cussac. They were shut off from the public in 1963 to preserve their valuable murals.
The Cussac cave is accessed via a narrow passage through boulders that have closed off its inner chambers for thousands of years.
Guided by the beams from their headlamps, tourists traverse expansive caverns filled with stalactites and stalagmites, treading the same slender route as Marc Delluc, the late amateur spelunker who unearthed this grotto in September 2000.
In 2017, Delluc passed away after noticing an air current emanating from the crevices in the stones. He navigated through the limestone and discovered a pathway approximately 100 meters (110 yards) long that led to the carvings.
It was likely sealed shortly after being inhabited, thereby safeguarding the soil and remnants within.
Emeline Deneuve from the cultural affairs division of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region
He recounted the "surge of excitement" he experienced upon spotting the curved shapes and outlines etched into the stone above him.
He mentioned how he recognized the privilege bestowed upon him, allowing access to a site sanctified since antiquity.
The cave, extending for 1.6 kilometers (1 mile), features over 1,000 carvings of various creatures and abstract female shapes.
Researchers have determined their age to be between 26,000 and 35,000 years old, corresponding to the era of the ancient Gravettian culture in Europe.
The Grotte de Cussac stands out due to its excellent preservation. It likely became sealed shortly after being inhabited, thus safeguarding the contents within from disturbance,” stated Emeline Deneuve, who leads heritage conservation efforts at the cultural affairs division of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region’s government.
Scratch marks and indications of digging suggest that it was also utilized by cave bears, which were prehistoric ancestors of the brown bear.
Within their cryopreservation pods, scientists discovered the remnants of six human bodies, which date back to the same era as the carvings.
According to Jacques Jaubert, the site’s lead archaeologist, this is the sole known instance where a cave was utilized by ancient humans for both interments and artwork.
He stated that the location served as a "safe haven" rather than a place of residence. The collective chose to live outdoors, either in exposed areas or beneath rock formations for shelter.
Jaubert believes the cave might have served as a site for initiation rituals, "a transition ceremony for teenagers to enter adulthood," which is a custom frequently seen among early hunter-gatherer communities.
He mentioned that it would also be viewed as "a transitional space between the realm of the living and the domain of the deceased".
The carvings, referred to as "pieces of folklore" by him, were created using materials like flint, wood, and bone.
They portray bison, ibex, geese, and various other creatures, along with women who are frequently shown with oversized heads and minuscule feet.
"Following the examination of the cave’s walls, where he left marks using his fingertips, the artist etched initial depictions of animals. These were later supplemented with additional layers of images," explained researcher Valerie Feruglio, who employs 3D imaging techniques to analyze these works of art, aiming to unravel their narratives.
The cave remains unexplored to this day.
However, the authorities are very careful about safeguarding the location, designated as a historic monument back in 2002.
"Deneuve, who leads conservation efforts, stated, 'We are the custodians tasked with safeguarding and recording this site,' " he mentioned.
We back the research conducted there, provided it aligns with conservation and heritage standards. Our aim also includes documenting the cave and creating a 3D digital version to make it accessible to everyone.
In October, a complimentary exhibition showcasing the cave was unveiled in Buisson-de-Cadouin, a commune located in France’s Dordogne region, featuring replicas of its artistic wonders.
However, officials state that there are currently no intentions to make the cave accessible to the general public.
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