Cave Beneath the Sea - Hardcover

Clottes, Jean; Courtin, Jean

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0810940337 ISBN 13: 9780810940338

Publisher: Harry N. Abrams, 1996

Synopsis

A fine publication which tells the story of the discovery and subsequent investigation of Grotte Cosquer, one of the most stunning - and chronologically accountable - examples of paleolithic cave art yet to be found. With high-quality colour photographs the 18,500 year-old representations of horses, ibex, chamois, aurochs, megaloceros, and sea creatures such as seals and great auks are shown in all their glory. A remarkable account of a very unusual find.

About this title

Language Notes:

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: French

From Publishers Weekly:

In 1991, French deep-sea diver Henri Cosquer discovered an underwater cave 120 feet below sea level near Marseilles containing Paleolithic paintings and engravings of animals, complex geometric signs, stenciled human hands and innumerable finger tracings. Once several miles inland, the cave's mouth became submerged when seas rose at the end of the last Ice Age some 12,000 years ago. French archeologists Clottes and Courtin took part in expeditions to the submerged cavern. Using radiocarbon tests, they dated some of the artwork to 27,000 years ago-9500 years earlier than the celebrated paintings of the Lascaux cave. Although the Cosquer cave's animal paintings do not seem nearly as powerful as those of Lascaux, the art and artifacts left behind by adventurous Homo sapiens hunters add up to an extraordinary find, as documented in this attractive album. Among the prehistoric artworks are pictures of plains horses, ibex, bison and the extinct deer called megaloceros; rare images of marine animals such as seals, auks and a fish; and an engraving of a killed man, his skull crushed by a spearhead-an image that suggests to the authors a murder or execution. Natural Science Book Club main selection.

Copyright 1996 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Harry N. Abrams
• Publication date: 1996
• ISBN 10: 0810940337
• ISBN 13: 9780810940338
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 200