It’s important to remember that Niaux Cave is one of Europe's most impressive Paleolithic rock art galleries of cave paintings. Niaux Cave has been visited since the 17th century - as shown by the graffiti, dated as early as 1602. But it was not until 1906, when the cave paintings in the main chamber of the cave—Salon Noir—were acknowledged as prehistoric, that the preservation of the cave and the study of the paintings began. Now, through radiocarbon dating of the charcoal, we know the rock art is at least 14,000 years old.
14,000 years!
So, to be clear, our interpretations of the cave art – the spirals and the dots – emphasize how much symbols can mean in artistic expression.
So, let’s start with the dots – or the “pre-pointillism.”
Remember,
14,000 years!
So, to be clear, our interpretations of the cave art – the spirals and the dots – emphasize how much symbols can mean in artistic expression.
So, let’s start with the dots – or the “pre-pointillism.”
Remember,