In Depth: These Mesmerizing Cave Paintings Were Discovered in 1901. Now, Archaeologists Finally Know When Some

Smithsonian Magazine uses this report to examine These Mesmerizing Cave Paintings Were Discovered in 1901. Now, Archaeologists Finally Know When Some of Them Were Created. Researchers had long assumed the art inside Font-de-Gaume in France was made with pigments that couldn't be analyzed using radiocarbon dating. Then they discovered traces of charcoal.

France’s Font-de-Gaume cave is brimming with prehistoric artwork depicting bison, horses, reindeer, mammoths and other creatures. Now, for the first time, scientists have determined when some of these colorful masterpieces were created.

The valley in southwestern France features 147 prehistoric sites and 25 decorated caves, according to UNESCO .&nbsp. Researchers took four samples from two figures—one from a painting of a bison, and three from a painting of an abstract mask.

Radiocarbon dating revealed the bison was created between 13,162 and 13,461 years ago, according to a statement . Two areas of the mask dated to between 14,246 and 15,981 years ago, while the third dated to between 8,590 and 8,993 years ago.

The report closes by linking the event to broader consequences.