

Chauvet: Humanity's First Great Masterpiece
2025-03-27 · 59 min · ★ 8.0
In December 1994, an archaeological marvel hidden deep inside France's Gorges de l'Ardèche was revealed to the modern world for the very first time: the Chauvet cave. Scientists immediately recognised the importance of this discovery. Sealed by a landslide more than 20,000 years ago, the cave had been extraordinarily well preserved. With over 1,000 paintings adorning its walls, Chauvet is a cave art jewel. How were the hidden chambers first formed? Who created the extraordinary art? And how can we preserve it for future generations? Follows a 30-year archaeological, geological and artistic adventure as scientists endeavour to understand and conserve this exceptional record of humanity's distant past.
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Production details
- Directors
- Guy Padovani
- Production companies
- France•tv Studio, France Télévisions, CNC, Ministère de la Culture, Ville de Vallon-Pont-d’Arc
- Countries
- France
- Status
- Released
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