Chauvet-Pont d’Arc Cave – Bringing Cave Art to the Surface

Only discovered in 1994, the cave paintings of Chauvet-Pont d’Arc cave in southern France are one of the world’s most outstanding modern archaeological finds. Intricate depictions of extinct animals speak to first-hand human experiences of horses, woolly rhinoceroses, cave lions and cave bears dating back as far as approximately 36,000 years ago.

Researching the archaeology of some of Europe’s oldest-known art has been a focus of Jean-Michel Geneste, one of the world’s leading archaeologists and rock art researchers. Jean-Michel is on a mission to bring this UNESCO World Heritage site to an international audience with the help of The Final Passage, a 28-minute film directed by Pascal Magontier that takes viewers on an immersive journey through the cave.

Following a screening of The Final Passage, Jean-Michel Geneste will join us online from France to share his insights into researching these archaeological treasures and creating meaningful interpretations of them that allow others to also experience the ancestral world of Chauvet-Pont d'Arc cave.

Please note – this special talk will only be on-site at Tūhura Otago Museum. It will not be accessible online.

5.30pm, Thursday 2 May
Barclay Theatre
Free