CNRS Dates Font-de-Gaume Cave Art to 13,461 calBP After Finding Hidden Charcoal
Updated
Updated · SciTechDaily · Jun 25
CNRS Dates Font-de-Gaume Cave Art to 13,461 calBP After Finding Hidden Charcoal
1 articles · Updated · SciTechDaily · Jun 25
Summary
Hidden charcoal in Font-de-Gaume’s black pigments let a CNRS-led team directly radiocarbon-date the cave paintings for the first time, ending a long-standing dating gap for Dordogne Paleolithic art.
Raman microspectrometry and hyperspectral imaging found charcoal embedded throughout the black lines of a bison and a mask, supporting that the carbon was original pigment rather than later contamination.
Carbon-14 tests on tiny authorized samples dated the bison to 13,461-13,162 calBP, while parts of the mask returned ranges of 15,981-15,121 calBP, 15,297-14,246 calBP and 8,993-8,590 calBP.
The results, published in PNAS, suggest some Font-de-Gaume works are slightly more recent than earlier estimates and could open the way to directly dating other Dordogne cave art, including works previously thought undatable.
With this breakthrough, can scientists now unlock the true age of world-famous cave art at sites like Lascaux?
If one cave painting was edited over 7,000 years, what does this reveal about our ancestors' relationship with art?
Breakthrough in Paleolithic Art Dating: Font-de-Gaume Cave Paintings Spanned Over 8,000 Years
Overview
A major breakthrough in dating Paleolithic cave art was achieved with a study published in March 2026, focusing on the ancient masterpieces of France's Dordogne region. Researchers used a new method that combines radiocarbon dating with advanced chemical imaging to precisely date carbon black-based pigments in the art. This dual approach allows scientists to directly determine when the artworks were created by accurately analyzing the organic components of the pigments. The ability to distinguish between different black pigments is crucial, as it ensures only the datable materials are tested, providing a clear timeline for these invaluable artistic expressions.