Care art of La Grez (Dordon, France): example of trasological analysis

This paper is dedicated to the first results of cave art traceological analysis in the cave of La Grèze (Dordogne, France). It is the first time when the technological research of cave engravings is realized by means of traceology, experiment and three-dimensional visualization (photogrammetry). This study includes some scientific questions, which were formulated by the previous researchers. First of all, the engraving techniques in La Grèze was determined and it was proved that those were not renewed. During the research we identified some features of the natural surface transformations. So, this paper response to some questions raised by the researchers of La Grèze before. This work covers the methodological issue, first of all, to an experiment and traceology of cave art. The results, represented here, demonstrate the possibilities of using of these methods in the field of broad archeological issues. It shows, as well, the ways of 3D-reconstructions application not only for visualization but as a research tool. Purpose. The purpose of this research was in application of some contemporary methods to a very special archeological source such as cave art. The traceology and experiment were successfully used, for a few years, on the materials of rock art, but these is the first example of application of this approach to the cave engravings research. That is why this paper shows the steps of such study and the ways the traceological and natural features identifying. On the other hand, this research is dedicated to answer some questions about the well-known representation of a bison from La Grèze, such as how it was made? By means of which techniques, was it pecking of engraving? Was the figure renewed, as it was suggested by some previous researchers? Otherwise, why the representation is so clear? Results. Thanks to comparing of traceological features on experimental, modern and the original engraving figures; thanks to comparing of naturally alterated surface and the modified parts of cave figures it is identified that the engraving techniques was used by the authors of the bison of La Grèze and not the techniques of pecking, as it was suggested by some researchers before. We can also confirm that the figure of bison wasn’t renewed and that it’s clear parts are mostly related with the processes of natural alteration. It is also well distinguished by the comparison with the naturally alterated part of the limestone surface, just close to the representation. Conclusion. The traceological features of cave engravings are very sensitive to the different processes of natural alteration, such as desquamation and micro-desquamation as well. That is why it is quite important to pay special attention to the mechanisms of surface degradation. This paper shows the possibilities of using of traceology, experiment and photogrammetry as complementary methods and techniques in the researches of the cave art. This approach let us answer some questions that remained unanswered.