Conservation of the cave Chauvet-Pont d'Arc
As soon as the Chauvet-Pont d'Arc cave was discovered, conservation measures were put in place...
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The cave Chauvet-Pont d'Arc was discovered on December 18, 1994. It has been protected as a historic monument since June 22, 2014. This extraordinary cave is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Discover the cave room by room thanks to the virtual tour
After its expertise on January 2, 1995 by Jean Clottes who authenticated it as one of the oldest places frequented and adorned by Man, the French State had to secure the cavity, to preserve the balance of the internal climate and to provide the facilities that would make it possible to conduct research.
The Chauvet-Pont d'Arc cave has been the subject of research conducted by a multidisciplinary team since 1998.
This, like any activity conducted in the cave, is conditioned by its conservation: this is an essential prerequisite specific to the Chauvet cave, envied by the managers of other cavities.
In 2000, most of the measures implemented under the auspices of the Regional Directorate of Cultural Affairs Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes , the Ministry of Culture creates the Chauvet Cave Conservation Department to continue the verification and preservation of the internal balance.
The main tasks of this service are:
- supervise climate and bacteriological monitoring carried out by specialized laboratories;
- Monitor the maintenance and maintenance of the cave, exterior and interior;
- ensure the coordination of all actors who enter the cave to carry out research, maintenance, maintenance, reporting etc.)
- The service takes photographs of areas that may change (for example, walls covered by seepage water).
- Since its World Heritage inscription on 22 June 2014 and the opening in 2015 of the Chauvet2 Cave (selective facsimile of the cave) generating an influx of its visitors in the region, the obligation of surveillance has progressed a notch.
- Among other very important missions of the service is the archiving of data relating to the life of the cave, its condition and all the activities that take place there. It is essential to create an archive of all these events: to keep track of them, and to be able to refer to them if necessary. In this sense, the service is working on the development of a Geographical Information System, a real geo-referenced database, which will rely on a complete survey
The team of the Chauvet Cave Conservation Department
To varying degrees, the officers of the service all have the essential mission of ensuring the safety of the cave, the surveillance of its health and the safety of persons authorized to enter the cavity: reception and supervision of laboratories in charge of monitoring the internal climate balance, maintenance and maintenance companies of the cavity and its surroundings, the team of researchers, the media and the rare visitors.
The team consists of:
- conservative, Marie-Blanche Potte, curator of the Chauvet cave, head of the cave conservation department, deputy regional curator of Historic Monuments. DRAC Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.
Its role is essentially to initiate and coordinate the conservation actions of the cave and interventions in terms of work and maintenance, in close collaboration with the Regional Archaeological Service (DRAC Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes) to harmonize research work with cave conservation.
Other actions are carried out with the National Prehistory Centre to create an accessible archive (collection of iconographic collections).
The Catalogue of the image fund of the Chauvet cave is available from the NOC. In terms of valorization, the Head of Conservation ensures the holding of communications with large audiences including that of schools and colleges, and develops with the Chauvet2 Cave joint communication actions. - of conservation assistants
In addition to their missions related to the safety and maintenance of the cavity, and the safety of people, they actively participate in the valorisation of the cave by the transmission of scientific knowledge in the school and associative environment.
They are particularly responsible for setting up and supplying the Geographical Information System, monitoring technical installations and photographic shots.. - assistant in charge of monitoring the decorated caves of the Ardèche . Its first mission is to control the safety and monitor the health of the decorated caves of the southern Ardèche. He then constitutes a member of the Conservation team for missions related to the safety and maintenance of the cavity, and the safety of people. It also participates in the valorisation of the cave by the transmission of scientific knowledge in the associative environment.
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