Grotte Cosquer, Archaeological museum in Marseille, France.
Grotte Cosquer is an archaeological museum in Marseille displaying a complete replica of an underwater prehistoric cave containing approximately 480 Paleolithic artworks. The original site remained submerged beneath the sea for thousands of years, preserving paintings and engravings on its walls.
Henri Cosquer discovered the entrance to the original cave in 1985 at 37 meters underwater. The artworks found inside span different periods, showing that people visited and used this location over extended time spans.
The museum displays reproductions of animal depictions like horses, penguins, and seals that decorated the original cave walls. These images tell us about the lives and hunting practices of people who lived along this coast thousands of years ago.
The museum is open daily and housed in a modern venue with good accessibility for visitors of varying abilities. You can explore the site at your own pace, making it suitable for families with children and people with limited mobility.
Visitors travel through the replica in small electric vehicles, mimicking the experience of entering an actual underground cave. This interactive approach allows people to see prehistoric art in an environment resembling the original setting.
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