Lighting methods and implications

Light becomes one with the cave frescoes, enhancing the shapes and bringing the figures to life. Several means were used by prehistoric artists to illuminate Font-de-Gaume, such as using torches or setting up fireplaces and oil lamps.

Close examination of the evidence of human movement in prehistoric caves clearly shows that man had sufficient lighting to inhabit this particular environment. The distances covered in some very deep caves suggest that lighting was not a problem and, in particular, did not limit how long humans remained in the caves. Evidence of the lighting techniques that have made their way down to us include the torch marks seen on certain walls — the result of actions to re-oxygenate a torch that ended up smouldering too much — but also, as at Font-de-Gaume, evidence of fireplaces on the ground or on promontories, and of course animal fat lamps. These may be simple concretions or fragments of concave limestone, or objects that have been shaped over a long period of time and sometimes decorated in soft stone. These cups were filled with pieces of fat that fuelled the combustion of a wick made of plant matter. The lights could be fixed or transportable depending on the activity. The movement of the flames helped to bring the figures to life, and the interplay of natural reliefs became even more inspiring.