Micro-analyses et datations de l'art préhistorique dans son contexte archéologique – MADACPA

For a long time, knowledge of the art of caves and prehistoric objects was founded on the descriptive analysis of the representations and their disposals, disconnected from any archaeological context. Since about fifteen years, it improved with direct dating, physical, chemical and biological micro-analysis on pigments and their binders and technological data related to the engraved lines. Until now, these analysis required samples or prints involving impairments of the works of art. The current development of recording and measuring portable devices allows the physical and chemical analysis in situ, without direct contact with the figures. This leads to new manners of intervention on sites regarding the supports and the drawings, while avoiding, as possible, making any samples or contacts and, accordingly, any pollution. These analyses also become more relevant when put in archaeological contexts. This original project has a double goal: 1) Exploit the recent technological developments to improve conditions of observation, statements and conservation of the works of art. 2) To have a better articulation of research outlines, often scattered, in the current multi-disciplinary studies undertaken by prehistorians and chemists and physicists. A true methodological relevance, new forces and wonderings can emerge from the complementary disciplinary and institutional teams currently committed on prehistoric art research in Europe (especially in France and Spain). In this, this project is also innovating as it intends developing the analyses of the particular contexts of all micro-analyses and direct dating in order to stop with the current unsolved gaps between specific micro-analyses and analyses linked with general interpretations of the archaeological data. The main sites selected within the framework of this project are the caves of Margot in Mayenne, Font-de-Gaume, Combarelles, Bernifal, Rouffignac, Lascaux and the Pataud rock shelter in Dordogne, Fontanet in Ariège, as well as La Garma and Tito Bustillo in Spain. These major sites, at once accessible to research, present a broad chronological and cultural range and different but complementary questionings. Some of these places are also well preserved of human deteriorations or contaminations (as they are recent discoveries or with very small frequentation) and are very conductive to multi-field studies. Our project will comprehend several axes of investigation: 1) the study of the taphonomic evolution of the decorated supports and the possible sources of contaminations. A comparative analysis is to be developed between Lascaux and Margot, subjects of important assaults and Fontanet and the two Spanish cavities, protected since their discoveries, in order to define protocols and conservation measures for both the representations and their rock supports ; 2) physical and chemical analyses of the pigments and of the techniques in order to describe the prehistoric artists' cultural practices ; technological analysis of parietal and portable engravings to understand the human processes ; 3) establishment of a detailed chronology with the phases of achievement of the representations correlated with the phases of occupations and/or circulations in each cave, thanks to a diachronic study of the wall devices and of the direct dates on paintings and/or on remains found on the ground ; 4) the use of acquisition, processing and digital recording techniques in 2D or 3D of the representations and of their graphic readings (the tracings). The data gathered with this program will allow a better identification of the diversity of the decorated sets and description of techniques, styles and topics' evolution throughout Upper Paleolithic. All things considered, our objective is to elaborate in a collective and multi-disciplinary way an effective, reliable and normative for the conservation aspect, study protocol of decorated caves and shelters as well as sites with movable art. Once established, this protocol will be able, in proper time, to be adapted to other sites in France and Spain, but also extended to other world areas where partners of the project lead or take part in researches devoted to symbolic prehistoric behaviors. It will also allow the creation of an analytical and photographic data bank thanks to the digital and informatics techniques. The four partners of this project are the Department of Prehistory of the National Museum of Natural History (MNHN), and the Museums of France' s Research and Restoration Center (C2RMF), the National Center of Prehistory (CNP) and the Science Laboratory of Climate and Environment (CNRS-CEA-UVSQ).