A research team from the Center de Recherche et de Restauration des Musées de France has uncovered charcoal-based Paleolithic cave art in the Font-de-Gaume cave, located in the Dordogne region of southern France.

Published in Scientific Reports under the title “First Discovery of Charcoal-Based Prehistoric Cave Art in Dordogne,” the team’s findings provide a key breakthrough in dating techniques

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Facing restrictions on sampling, the researchers turned to non-invasive analytical methods, employing visible-light and infrared photography, superimposition of images, portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF), and portable micro-Raman spectroscopy. By using these methods, the team successfully revealed carbon-based drawings beneath those created with iron and manganese oxide pigments.1

  • 1. The team’s creation of false-color infrared photography (FCIR) images through superimposing visible-light and infrared images proved pivotal. This innovative technique, capturing radiation wavelengths above 900 nm, allowed the differentiation of various materials used in the creation of the images. Portable micro-Raman spectroscopy played a crucial role in detecting carbon-based compounds within the images. Meanwhile, pXRF enabled the differentiation of various manganese-oxide compounds present in the black figures. The different types of pigment materials discovered may represent distinct creation phases.
Figure 3
Figure 3 - VIS light photography of the "Carrefour" with four analytical zones depicted in detail on the right-hand side: (a) in-situ Raman spectra of the Deer 13 (R019) and the Bison 14 (R025) with the analytical spots indicating the presence of charcoal, Mn oxides and calcite. The Raman bands around 1398 cm−1 and 1597 cm−1 are those of charcoal. The band at 1085 cm−1 is the main calcite band. Mn oxides are identified thanks to the bands between 500 and 670 cm−1, (b) in-situ pXRF spectra of the Bison 15, of the wall support and of the superimposed figures of the panel 14 showing different intensities of the Mn peak.

Reiche, I., Coquinot, Y., Trosseau, A. et al. First discovery of charcoal-based prehistoric cave art in Dordogne. Sci Rep 13, 22235 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-47652-1

Archaeologists have long been puzzled by the exact age of Paleolithic cave art in Europe especially in the Franco-Cantabrian region with hundreds of decorated caves because the creation of this parietal art (paintings, drawings and engravings) is closely tied to the appearance of first modern humans in Europe and their ways of life. The Dordogne region, one of the richest regions in terms of Paleolithic cave art in the world with more than 200 cave sites, is currently known to provide figures of cave art solely made with mineral coloring matters that cannot be dated directly. Using in-situ non-invasive Raman spectroscopy combined with portable X-ray fluorescence analysis as well as visible and infrared imaging of the decor of the Font-de-Gaume cave, we show the presence of a large number of charcoal-based Paleolithic figures besides others made of iron and manganese oxides in the main galleries for the first time. The creation periods of the cave art at Font-de-Gaume are mainly attributed to the Magdalenian period and probably more complicated constituted of at least two creation phases than commonly established as shown by the direct or partial superimposition of carbon-based and iron- and/or manganese-based figures. Our new results contribute to a better understanding of the organisation of the ornamentation and thus of the imaginary language of our Prehistoric ancestors. The discovery opens new research possibilities for re-reading of the complex panels and absolute radiocarbon dating.

Figure 1
Figure 1 - (a) Visible (VIS) light photography of the selected panel at the “Carrefour” ranging from the facing Reindeers 11 and 12 at Font-de-Gaume cave © Anne Maigret, C2RMF and (b) corresponding False colour infrared photography (FCIR) image of the facing reindeer evidencing the underlying black horse figure with the indicated analytical pXRF and micro-Raman point analyses.