Vivid stone-age art found in French cave
(A.A.P. 05/07/2001; Gympie Times p.7. Friday July 6 2001)
PERIGUEUX, France: A cave with vivid prehistoric engravings possibly dating to 28,000 BC
and several human graves has been discovered in western France, in what archaeologists are
calling a major find. The cave was discovered by an amateur cave explorer in September,
but was not announced until yesterday. The engravings are believed to predate the world's
oldest cave paintings at Lascaux which are about 18,000 years old.
"It is as important for engravings as Lascaux is for painting," said Dany
Baraud, chief archaeologist at the Regional Direction of Cultural Affairs of Aquitaine, of
the cave discovered in the hamlet of Cussac. Both caves are in France's western Dordogne
region. The area is known for its ancient cave art. Hundreds of metres of detailed
engravings found inside the Cussac cave depict animals - including bison, horses,
rhinoceroses - and human figures. Seven graves containing human skeletons were also found.
Radiocarbon-dating tests are not expected to produce results for several weeks.
"The presence of graves in a decorated cave is unprecedented," an archaeologist
said. In 1994, a cave was found in the Ardeche region containing drawings and some
engravings dating back 32,000 years. Meanwhile US archaeologists say they have found human
remains up to 2500 years old near a mysterious stone circle. Test holes dug in the
one-hectare Brickell Park in Miami, Florida, have exposed the bones of at least 12 people,
archaeologist Bob Carr said.
"The fact that scientists dug only 41 small holes but found so many remains means
there could be between 50 and 100 bodies buried there," he said.Link
to Website
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