Mayenne-Sciences cave, Cave entrance in Thorigné-en-Charnie, France.
Mayenne-Sciences cave is an entrance to an underground formation with several connected chambers that have been known since ancient times. The passages link different rooms together, where prehistoric artworks cover the walls throughout.
People visited this cave during the Gravettian period, an era of the Stone Age, and left their artistic creations on the walls. Scientists later used advanced dating techniques to confirm the artworks are approximately 24,500 years old.
The cave walls display handprints and animal figures left by people who lived here thousands of years ago. These marks tell the story of hunters and gatherers who recorded their activities and the animals they knew.
Visiting the cave requires careful preparation since the interior spaces are dark and surfaces can be slippery underfoot. Proper footwear and caution when walking are important to safely navigate through the different chambers.
Researchers use modern techniques like electrical resistivity imaging to study the cave's internal structure without excavation. These methods help gather new information about the chambers while protecting the ancient artworks from damage.
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