Hidden charcoal reveals the true age of ancient cave paintings

Scientists have precisely dated ancient cave paintings in France's Font-de-Gaume cave for the first time using radiocarbon dating. Charcoal was discovered inside black pigments, previously thought to contain only minerals, allowing for the dating method to be applied. A bison painting was found to be approximately 13,000 years old, while a mask-like figure was painted in multiple stages over several distinct periods. The findings provide new insights into the creation and evolution of these ancient artworks.

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