This first volume of Monographie de la grotte Chauvet-Pont d’Arc presents a reasoned inventory of the information contained in the cave in the form of an atlas. While this type of publication may seem unusual, the dimensions of the cave, the morphology of the chambers and galleries that compart-mentalize its space, as well as the inscription of artworks in its underground landscape, are all invitations to reflect upon, study and structure our knowledge of the cave using a cartographic approach. The progressive presentation of the Atlas de la grotte Chauvet-Pont d’Arc enables us to address, in the most neutral manner possible, the complexity and factual richness, often emphasized, of this underground sanctuary. The proposed itinerary, close to that of the current path of the walkways from the entrance to the end of the cavity, invites us to discover the cave via twenty maps extracted from the integrated map of the cave floors. Moving through the cave and into its smallest and most intimate spaces, each person can shape their reading according to their interests. The visit to each of the twenty zones is organized according to the same narrative structure. The first page, accompa-nied by a panoramic photograph, presents the main charac-teristics of the zone and the themes that will be addressed. Depending on the sectors, the archaeology, paleontology, geology, speleogenesis or underground landscape is empha-sized. The second and third pages are positioned opposite each other and are designed to interact. The second page presents the integrated map reproduced at the 1:100 scale. Below it, a thumbnail representation enables the reader to identify the location of the map within the cave. A small map at the 1:300 scale presents the cave floor in 3D and shows the location, feature and artwork designations, the permanent and temporary paths installed for observations, as well as the camera angles and the position of the longitudinal profile of the zone. A synoptic figure shows the relative representation of each of the research domains in the map zone. The pages that follow provide an initial synthesis of the observations and research in progress. These aspects will be presented in detail in the succeeding volumes of the Atlas de la grotte Chauvet-Pont d’Arc.

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Among the paintings and engravings found in the Chauvet-Pont d'Arc cave (Ardèche, France), several peculiar spray-shape signs have been previously described in the Megaloceros Gallery. Here we document the occurrence of strombolian volcanic activity located 35 km northwest of the cave, and visible from the hills above the cave entrance. The volcanic eruptions were dated, using 40Ar/39Ar, between 29 ± 10 ka and 35 ± 8 ka (2σ), which overlaps with the 14C AMS and thermoluminescence ages of the first Aurignacian occupations of the cave in the Megaloceros Gallery. Our work provides the first evidence of an intense volcanic activity between 40 and 30 ka in the Bas-Vivarais region, and it is very likely that Humans living in the Ardèche river area witnessed one or several eruptions. We propose that the spray-shape signs found in the Chauvet-Pont d'Arc cave could be the oldest known depiction of a volcanic eruption, predating by more than 34 ka the description by Pliny the Younger of the Vesuvius eruption (AD 79) and by 28 ka the Çatalhöyük mural discovered in central Turkey.

Direct chronological data of the ancient heating of calcitic walls at the Chauvet-Pont d'Arc Cave (Ardeche, France) were obtained at the Galerie des Megaceros and at the Eboulis d'Entree. Fragments of reddened limestone were extracted from the walls and were studied. by thermoluminescence (TL). A novel measurement protocol of the equivalent dose (ED) was implemented and was optimized with respect to the nature of the material being dated (calcite), to the small quantities of sample available and to the relatively low heating of the rock surface in the past (close to 350 degrees C). The presence of a high level of free radon in the cave and Pb-210 in large excess in samples implied the development of a specific irradiation model allowing the evaluation of the mean annual dose over time, taking into account possible scenario of radon and daughters migration from the bedrock. The following dating results were obtained (in ka before the present and associated total estimated standard deviation):- Galerie des Megaceros, 36.9 +/- 2.3 ka.- Eboulis d'Entree, 34.3 +/- 2.9 ka.These data are in agreement with the calibrated radiocarbon dates of the most ancient periods of human occupation in their respective areas. TL dates indicate that the fires which altered the walls were lighted during the first paleolithic human occupation period. Eventually, TL dating of the heated surface of the bedrock opens a new window on the chronology of human activities in the Chauvet-Pont d'Arc Cave and it makes an alternative contribution to the demonstration of the early chronology of its rock art. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The Chauvet-Pont d'Arc Cave is one of the most important sites for the study of the earliest manifestations and development of prehistoric art at the beginning of the Upper Paleolithic. Different dating techniques have been performed thus far (AMS 14C, U/Th TIMS, 36Cl dating) to model the chronological framework of this decorated cave. The cave yielded several large charcoal fragments, which enabled the opportunity for obtaining multiple dates; thus, a First Radiocarbon Intercomparison Program (FIP) was initiated in 2004 using three charcoal pieces. The FIP demonstrated that those cross-dated samples belonged to a time period associated with the first human occupation. One of the statistical interests of an intercomparison program is to reduce the uncertainty on the sample age; thus, to further assess the accuracy of the chronological framework, the Second Intercomparison Program (SIP) involving 10 international 14C laboratories was carried out on two pieces of charcoal found inside two hearth structures of the Galerie des Mégacéros. Each laboratory used its own pretreatment and AMS facilities. In total, 21 and 22 measurements were performed, respectively, which yielded consistent results averaging ∼32 ka BP. Two strategies have currently been developed to identify statistical outliers and to deal with them; both lead to quasi-identical calibrated combined densities. Finally, the new results were compared with those of the FIP, leading to the important conclusion that five different samples from at least three different hearth structures give really tightened temporal densities, associated with one short human occupation in the Galerie des Mégacéros.

Les recherches sur la taphonomie des parois ornées de la grotte Chauvet-Pont d'Arc ont conduit à l'identification et à l'étude détaillée de traces résultant d'un processus de chauffe : teintes rose et grise de la roche, écaillage et dépôts dus à la fumée. Ce faciès thermique a été observé aussi bien dans les premières salles, comportant majoritairement des peintures rouges, que dans les salles profondes où se trouvent la plupart des représentations réalisées au charbon de bois. Une étude paléothermométrique par thermoluminescence a été mise en œuvre sur des fragments de calcaire rubéfié collectés au sol ou sur les parois. Elle montre que la roche a été chauffée dans le passé à des températures comprises entre 300 et 375°C selon l'échantillon. Les données chronologiques, tant absolues (datation C14 des charbons) que relatives (relation avec les représentations pariétales) indiquent que les feux se rapportent principalement à l'Aurignacien. La fonction de ces feux reste inconnue : éclairage, ravivage de torche, production de colorant, ou encore de fumée ou de chaleur sans nécessité directe autre que symbolique, modification de l'état de surface de la paroi, protection vis-à-vis des ours qui fréquentaient la grotte en même temps que les hommes...