Wall of the Niaux cave (Ardèche)

Paroi de la grotte de Niaux (Ardèche)
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On this section of wall, in a highly decorated space known as the “Black Room”, there are four bison. One of them, of which we can see only the head, is peering out of a natural hollow. The bison facing it, which is one metre wide, has arrow-like marks on its side. A third bison has one such mark, and others appear on one of the two ibex. These marks may be associated with hunting; however, very different marks appear elsewhere on animals and bison were not the main animal hunted. Here, the level of realism is typical of Magdalenian art. Direct radiocarbon dating has shown that this section of wall dates from the same period as Étiolles.

Photo © Centre National de Préhistoire – MCC/ N. Aujoulat

Photo © Centre National de Préhistoire – MCC/ N. Aujoulat

Vist the site : Étiolles, Palaeolithic encampments