The "blazons" of the Lascaux Cave

Between 1952 and 1963, the Abbe Glory conducted excavation in the Lascaux Cave. He discovered many artefacts useful for the Prehistoric painter. Today this material is kept in the "Institut de Paleontologie Humaine" in Paris. Some of this material, as well as the painting matter of the "Blazons" of the Black Cow Panel of the Nef, were examined and analysed by electron microscopy: SEM and TEM. Yellow, ocher and red pigments are iron oxides and black pigments are manganese oxides. The results indicate that the pigments were by no means heated, nor associated with any extender. Nevertheless the variety of the raw matter indicates a real strategy to exploit nature in order to match the desired hue and the texture of the painted panel. (c) 2005 Elsevier SAS. Tons droits reserves.