Athena Review Image Archive ™
Saint-Raphaël: EpiPaleolithic painted hand
Painted hand from EpiPaleolithic (Musée Archéol. de St. Raphaël; photo: Athena Review).
The
Musée Archéologique de St. Raphaël contains unique displays on local
Paleolithic occupations in the Estérel Massif, with sites dating from
600,000 to 10,000 years ago (BP). From the earliest period, stone tools
of rhyolite, a metamorphosed volcanic lava, have been recovered at
Roussivau. From the Upper Paleolithic, Périgordian flint
artifacts dating from about 25,000 BP are displayed along with faunal
remains from excavations at Gratadis.
One of the most striking
exhibits is a red hand silhouette painted on a stone slab, dating from
the EpiPaleolithic period (ca.10,000-8000 BP). The hand is similar to
others known from Upper Paleolithic cave sites in the Mediterranean
region. Given its great age, the painting appears remarkably fresh.
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