La Grotte Cosquer (Cap Morgiou, Marseille) - article ; n°4 ; vol.89, pg 98-128
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Bulletin de la Société préhistorique française - Année 1992 - Volume 89 - Numéro 4 - Pages 98-128
ABSTRACT In 1991 a huge chamber with numerous paintings and engravings was discovered by a professional deep-sea diver after a long (175 m) passage that sloped up from a narrow (1.30 m high) entrance situated 37 m under present sea-level. The art was preserved because the chamber happened to be high up enough not to have been flooded, but large numbers of paintings and engravings were most probably destroyed in the passage and in the lower part of the chamber. Many other caves along that coast disappeared under the sea after the end of the Pleistocene with the rise of the water, but it is the first time ever that rock art was discovered under such circumstances. The first question to address was that of the art's authenticity. On-the-spot observations and various analyses (pollen, charcoal, 14C dating) leave no room for any doubt. A 18,440 bp date ( ± 440, Ly- 5558) was obtained from charcoal lying on the ground. The 17 samples of charcoal determined belonged to Pinus silvestris and Pinus nigra, whereas the Pine of Alep, the only species now represented in the area, was absent. Two preliminary pollen analyses pointed to a Wiirm landscape, with very few trees, among which Betula. At least half the paintings are covered with patches of bright white calcite, of a type which, according to geologists, takes a very long time in depositing. Most of the engravings are distinctly weathered and patina- ted. However, the art's authenticity was challenged by a few, from the photographs published in the newspapers. Their arguments are discussed in this study. So far, 44 animals (21 engraved, 23 painted) and 26 negative hands, most of them with incomplete fingers, have been found. Horses are dominant (14), followed by bisons and ibex in equal numbers (7), then by chamois (5); there also are 1 red deer, 1 feline, 3 penguins, 2 seals and 2 possible megaceros, as well as 2 indeterminate quadrupeds. Many signs, among which long barbed lines superimposed on various animals, were observed. In addition, the walls of the chamber are covered with innumerable fine engravings and finger tracings that have not so far been studied. The present count of animals, hands and signs is therefore highly provisional. The superimpositions point to two possible periods, the earlier with the negative hands and the finger tracings, the later with the painted and engraved animals and the fine engravings. From the conventions used, the second period is probably contemporary with Ebbou (Ardèche), or the Late Solutrean of Parpalló (Spain), maybe a bit later as some details have their counterpart in Lascaux. This art should be situated within a period estimated between 17,000 and 20,000 bp. Even though the cave art cannot yet be studied as it should and it will be years before it is, the importance of this discovery is obvious: it is located in the Provence where no Paleolithic rock art had ever been found before; the art exhibits various characteristics that may bear witness to outside influences or may be original and have spread from there (Lascaux; Ebbou and other mediterranean caves; Gargas for the hands); finally, as is often the case with major art caves, it shows some distinct original features (for example, the sea animals, some signs, etc.).
31 pages
Source : Persée ; Ministère de la jeunesse, de l’éducation nationale et de la recherche, Direction de l’enseignement supérieur, Sous-direction des bibliothèques et de la documentation.

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Publié le 01 janvier 1992
Nombre de lectures 62
Langue Français
Poids de l'ouvrage 7 Mo

Extrait

Jean Clottes
A. Beltrán
Jean Courtin
H. Cosquer
La Grotte Cosquer (Cap Morgiou, Marseille)
In: Bulletin de la Société préhistorique française. 1992, tome 89, N. 4. pp. 98-128.
Citer ce document / Cite this document :
Clottes Jean, Beltrán A., Courtin Jean, Cosquer H. La Grotte Cosquer (Cap Morgiou, Marseille). In: Bulletin de la Société
préhistorique française. 1992, tome 89, N. 4. pp. 98-128.
doi : 10.3406/bspf.1992.10536
http://www.persee.fr/web/revues/home/prescript/article/bspf_0249-7638_1992_num_89_4_10536Abstract
ABSTRACT In 1991 a huge chamber with numerous paintings and engravings was discovered by a
professional deep-sea diver after a long (175 m) passage that sloped up from a narrow (1.30 m high)
entrance situated 37 m under present sea-level. The art was preserved because the chamber happened
to be high up enough not to have been flooded, but large numbers of paintings and engravings were
most probably destroyed in the passage and in the lower part of the chamber. Many other caves along
that coast disappeared under the sea after the end of the Pleistocene with the rise of the water, but it is
the first time ever that rock art was discovered under such circumstances. The first question to address
was that of the art's authenticity. On-the-spot observations and various analyses (pollen, charcoal, 14C
dating) leave no room for any doubt. A 18,440 bp date ( ± 440, Ly- 5558) was obtained from charcoal
lying on the ground. The 17 samples of charcoal determined belonged to Pinus silvestris and Pinus
nigra, whereas the Pine of Alep, the only species now represented in the area, was absent. Two
preliminary pollen analyses pointed to a Wiirm landscape, with very few trees, among which Betula. At
least half the paintings are covered with patches of bright white calcite, of a type which, according to
geologists, takes a very long time in depositing. Most of the engravings are distinctly weathered and
patina- ted. However, the art's authenticity was challenged by a few, from the photographs published in
the newspapers. Their arguments are discussed in this study. So far, 44 animals (21 engraved, 23
painted) and 26 negative hands, most of them with incomplete fingers, have been found. Horses are
dominant (14), followed by bisons and ibex in equal numbers (7), then by chamois (5); there also are 1
red deer, 1 feline, 3 penguins, 2 seals and 2 possible megaceros, as well as 2 indeterminate
quadrupeds. Many signs, among which long barbed lines superimposed on various animals, were
observed. In addition, the walls of the chamber are covered with innumerable fine engravings and finger
tracings that have not so far been studied. The present count of animals, hands and signs is therefore
highly provisional. The superimpositions point to two possible periods, the earlier with the negative
hands and the finger tracings, the later with the painted and engraved animals and the fine engravings.
From the conventions used, the second period is probably contemporary with Ebbou (Ardèche), or the
Late Solutrean of Parpalló (Spain), maybe a bit later as some details have their counterpart in Lascaux.
This art should be situated within a period estimated between 17,000 and 20,000 bp. Even though the
cave art cannot yet be studied as it should and it will be years before it is, the importance of this
discovery is obvious: it is located in the Provence where no Paleolithic rock art had ever been found
before; the art exhibits various characteristics that may bear witness to outside influences or may be
original and have spread from there (Lascaux; Ebbou and other "mediterranean" caves; Gargas for the
hands); finally, as is often the case with major art caves, it shows some distinct original features (for
example, the sea animals, some signs, etc.).Bulletin
de la SOCIÉTÉ PRÉHISTORIQUE
FRANÇAISE
1992 / TOME 89/4
La Cjrotte Cosquer
(Cap JVLorgiou, .Marseille)
par J. Clottes, A. Beltrán, J. Courtin, H. Cosquer
So far, 44 animals (21 engraved, 23 painted) and ABSTRACT 26 negative hands, most of them with incomplete
fingers, have been found. Horses are dominant (14),
followed by bisons and ibex in equal numbers (7), In 1991 a huge chamber with numerous paintings
then by chamois (5); there also are 1 red deer, 1 feliand engravings was discovered by a professional
ne, 3 penguins, 2 seals and 2 possible megaceros, as deep-sea diver after a long (175 m) passage that sl
well as 2 indeterminate quadrupeds. Many signs, oped up from a narrow (1.30 m high) entrance situa
among which long barbed lines superimposed on ted 37 m under present sea-level. The art was pre
various animals, were observed. In addition, the served because the chamber happened to be high
walls of the chamber are covered with innumerable up enough not to have been flooded, but large numb
fine engravings and finger tracings that have not so ers of paintings and engravings were most proba
far been studied. The present count of animals, bly destroyed in the passage and in the lower part of
hands and signs is therefore highly provisional. the chamber. Many other caves along that coast
disappeared under the sea after the end of the
The superimpositions point to two possible perPleistocene with the rise of the water, but it is the
iods, the earlier with the negative hands and the finfirst time ever that rock art was discovered under
ger tracings, the later with the painted and engraved such circumstances.
animals and the fine engravings. From the convent
The first question to address was that of the art's ions used, the second period is probably contempor
authenticity. On-the-spot observations and various ary with Ebbou (Ardèche), or the Late Solutrean
analyses (pollen, charcoal, 14C dating) leave no of Parpalló (Spain), maybe a bit later as some
room for any doubt. A 18,440 bp date ( ± 440, Ly- details have their counterpart in Lascaux. This art
5558) was obtained from charcoal lying on the should be situated within a period estimated bet
ground. The 17 samples of determined ween 17,000 and 20,000 bp.
belonged to Pinus silvestris and Pinus nigra, wher
eas the Pine of Alep, the only species now repre Even though the cave art cannot yet be studied as
sented in the area, was absent. Two preliminary pol it should and it will be years before it is, the impor
len analyses pointed to a Wiirm landscape, with tance of this discovery is obvious: it is located in the
very few trees, among which Betula. At least half Provence where no Paleolithic rock art had ever
the paintings are covered with patches of bright been found before; the art exhibits various character
white calcite, of a type which, according to geolog istics that may bear witness to outside influences or
ists, takes a very long time in depositing. Most of may be original and have spread from there
the engravings are distinctly weathered and patina- (Lascaux; Ebbou and other "mediterranean" caves;
ted. However, the art's authenticity was challenged Gargas for the hands); finally, as is often the case
by a few, from the photographs published in the with major art caves, it shows some distinct original
newspapers. Their arguments are discussed in this features (for example, the sea animals, some signs,
study. etc.). 99
Au cours du Pleistocene, le niveau de la mer a dans son voisinage immédiat, à quelques centaines
subi d'importantes variations sous l'effet des glacia de mètres à l'est. L'hypothèse qu'elles aient pu ser
tions et des phases de réchauffement. Au Paléoli vir d'habitat à la fin du Pleistocene n'aurait rien d'i
thique supérieur, pendant le Wiirm récent, la mer est nvraisemblable.
descendue jusqu'à 110-L20 m au-dessous du niveau
actuel (Lumley, 1976, p. 311). Les îles de Lérins, les
îles d'Hyères, et, devant Marseille, l'Archipel du HISTORIQUE
Frioul et l'îlot du Planier, étaient alors reliés au litto
ral, et une vaste plaine occupait une grande partie du
La découverte de la Grotte Cosquer s'est effecGolfe du Lion.
tuée en plusieurs temps, son inventeur, Henri Cos
Depuis le début de l'Holocène, la mer n'a cessé de quer, scaphandrier professionnel à Cassis, ayant ex
monter. Les diverses phases de son élévation sont j ploré peu à peu le long boyau qui donne accès aux
alonnées par des témoins archéologiques. En Médit vastes salles où se trouvent les œuvres d'art. Il re
erranée française, le village cardial de la Courège à péra l'entrée étroite en 1985 et déboucha dans la
Port-Leucate (Aude) est maintenant sous plusieurs grotte sans voir les peintures qui ne furent aperçues
mètres d'eau. On a longtemps pensé que le niveau qu'en juillet 1991.
maximum fut atteint pendant l'Antiquité et qu'il
Le 3 septembre 1991, H. Cosquer, après s'en être était resté stable depuis lors. Or, les études récentes
entretenu avec un étudiant en Préhistoire, sur le port romain de Marseille ont montré qu'il fut
J.-P. Bracco (LAPMO d'Aix-en-Provence et Universconstruit en fonction

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