Presentation: Humans and bears in the Ice Age

The Chauvet Cave, located in southern France, contains the oldest paintings in Europe, perfectly preserved. At this site, classified as a World Heritage Site since 2015, numerous paleontological remains of cave bears (Ursus spelaeus) have been identified in the various galleries. Multidisciplinary studies conducted in this decorated cave since 1995 have sought to establish the chronology of human and animal occupation, as well as the interactions between modern humans (Homo sapiens) and cave bears. This lecture presents the current state of research in this exceptional cave.

About the speakers:

Carole Fritz is a renowned archaeologist and specialist in prehistoric art (DRCNRS, Paris-LAMS), particularly European Paleolithic art. Since 2018, she has been leading the scientific team working in the Chauvet cave. For several years, C. Fritz has developed a social anthropological interpretive approach, convinced that symbolic efficiency is fundamental to the thinking of non-literate societies. The integration of concepts from disciplines outside archaeology, such as social
anthropology, psychology, shape psychology, and philosophy, as well as understanding artistic forms in an extended socio-cultural context, are essential to her in enriching interpretative paradigms and our understanding of ancient societies.

Philippe Fosse is a research fellow at the CNRS (CR-CNRS Aix-enProvence LAMPEA) specializing in the taphonomy and palaeontology of Quaternary large carnivores in Europe. He has directed research projects funded by the CNRS, the French Ministry of Research and the European network of natural history museums. P. Fosse leads field and lab research on extinct and extant bears from paleoecological and anthropozoological perspectives, including studies at sites such as the Chauvet cave, brown bear denning sites in the Pyrenees, and cave bear samples in France and Spain.

This presentation is part of a scientific collaboration in Norway and Sweden with Knut Helskog (Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø), Elisabeth Iregren (Lund University) and Inga-Maria Mulk (Swedish Mountain and Sámi Museum, Ájtte).

Read more about the Chauvet Cave: The Chauvet-Pont d'Arc cave

This presentation will be held in English and has free admission.