Prehistoric Speleological Exploration in the Cave of Aldène in Cesseras (Hérault, France): Human Footprint Paths and Lighting Management

Abstract

Aldène Cave is a system of 9 km of extent, on four hydrogeological levels. Within the first two fossil levels, which comprise more than half of the system, many archaeological remains have been discovered. They represent a continuum of more than 350,000 years of human history. On the second level, we find the Paul Ambert gallery, discovered in 1948 by the Abbé Dominique Cathala. This gallery contains many human traces, with footprints and marks of torches that were brought into the cave. A recent geomorphological study of these elements concerned registration and systematic analysis of the lighting marks, as well as an initial determination of the footprints. This work confirmed the contemporaneousness and functional link of these archaeological remains. Lighting management could be determined precisely with the traces on the walls and the remains discovered on the floor in connection with the footprints. These data, investigated with a spatial approach in relation to the cave network, clarify the prehistoric passages and allow an interpretation of the behaviour of visitors. All elements together form the picture of a family at a speleological investigation, which is attributed to the Mesolithic.