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Carbon black cave art in Dordogne was directly dated

Red ochre prehistoric rock art depicting stylized human figures, animals, and abstract symbols carved or painted on a light-colored stone surface with natural fissures and weathering.
Research area:ArchaeologyArchaeology and Rock Art StudiesRadiocarbon dating

What the study found

Carbon black-based figures were identified in the Font-de-Gaume cave, and direct radiocarbon dating was then applied to selected drawn or painted lines. The study reports dates for a Bison figure and a Mask figure, with most of the dates supporting a Paleolithic age for this cave art.

Why the authors say this matters

The authors say that noninvasive imaging made it possible to distinguish manganese-based black from carbon-based black, which unlocked direct dating of drawn or painted lines in the Dordogne region. The study suggests this opens the way for more systematic dating of parietal art and further research on carbon black-based Paleolithic cave art in the region.

What the researchers tested

The researchers used reflectance imaging spectroscopy, a noninvasive imaging method that measures how surfaces reflect light, to distinguish manganese-based and carbon-based black pigments. They then sampled two selected figures in the Font-de-Gaume cave for radiocarbon dating: the Bison and the Mask.

What worked and what didn't

The imaging approach allowed a precise noninvasive discrimination between manganese- and carbon-based blacks. Radiocarbon dating produced ages of 13461-13162 calBP for the Bison, and 8993-8590 calBP, 15981-15121 calBP, and 15297-14246 calBP for parts of the Mask; the abstract says these results, except for one date, experimentally confirmed the Paleolithic age of the cave art.

What to keep in mind

Dating cave art is described as challenging because only a small amount of material is available and contamination by other carbon sources is possible. The abstract does not give further limitations beyond this, and it notes that one of the dates did not fit the overall pattern.

Key points

  • Carbon black-based figures were identified in the Font-de-Gaume cave in Dordogne, France.
  • Reflectance imaging spectroscopy distinguished manganese-based black from carbon-based black.
  • Two figures were selected for radiocarbon dating: the Bison and the Mask.
  • The Bison date was 13461-13162 calBP.
  • Mask samples produced three dates: 8993-8590 calBP, 15981-15121 calBP, and 15297-14246 calBP.

Disclosure

Research title:
Carbon black cave art in Dordogne was directly dated
Authors:
Ina Reiche, Lucile Beck, Ingrid Caffy, Yvan Coquinot, Matthias Alfeld, Anne Maigret, José Tapia, Marc Martinez, Anthony Lescale, P. Paillet
Institutions:
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Centre de recherche et de restauration des musées de France, Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives, Université Paris-Saclay, CEA Paris-Saclay, Laboratoire de Mesure du Carbone 14, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Delft University of Technology, Nation University, Histoire Naturelle des Humanités Préhistoriques
Publication date:
2026-03-09
DOI:
10.1073/pnas.2524751123
OpenAlex record:
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AI provenance: This post was generated by OpenAI. The original authors did not write or review this post.

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