Chauvet, 200th post!

Chauvet-Pont d’Arc in Ardèche, France, an enormous, stunning, prehistoric painted cave, is closed for preservation. Its replica, called Chauvet 2, opened to the public in 2015. The original cave is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The oldest site I visited on this journey across the south of France, it is dated at approximately 36,000 years ago and was active through 27,000. Its numerous engravings and paintings cover over 3,000 square meters. Over 420 animals have been identified, painted or engraved on the rock walls, and there are a few images believed to be vulva, a representation of female presence.

Three spelunkers, cave explorers, led by park ranger Jean-Marie Chauvet, had discovered some minor painted caves in previous years. In 1994, they hiked along a crest in the mountains above the Ardèche River, when they felt a gust of cool air by a pile of rocks. Digging out a larger opening, Éliette Brunel was able to enter. As they followed her, walking carefully in each other’s footprints, she cried out “Ils sont venus!” translated as “They were here!”

The narrow passage opened to a massive cavern with many rooms, walls covered with beautifully drawn, overlaid images of animals. The floor was littered with bear bones and artifacts, and some human footprints. Most amazing was a rock in the center of one room with a cave bear skull sitting on it and other skulls on the floor around the rock. Charcoal from what seems to have been a small fire on the rock under the skull, before it was placed there, was dated to more than 30,000 years ago. It does not appear to have been moved since. A spiritual place? An altar? A totem? (For those who have read Jean Auel’s book, The Clan of the Cave Bear?)

Jean Clottes, from the Ministry of Culture, authenticated the site. Prehistorians have been able to determine the order that many of the overlapping images were drawn, indicating, experts suggest, that the multiple figures were planned. I pictured them working together, like a Renaissance artist, with assistants providing light and materials, although it may have been a project for individuals to undertake. The artistry of these drawings from 36,000 years ago is as skillful as those in more recent caves from around 17,000. It’s a breathtaking sight to behold, even as a reproduction.

Note: I didn’t take photos in the caves. The following images are from Wikimedia Commons, an Internet source of photos in the public domain.

Blog post number 200!

This is my 200^th blog post. Thanks so much for coming along! My warmest appreciation to you for reading and following my thoughts, travels, and photos, even if you’ve just dropped by once or twice. It’s been a labor of love.

I began this website and blog five years ago in 2020, when things closed down due to COVID. Blogging was a way to communicate while in isolation, a way to reach out and share my life. It’s been a delight to see others read and comment, enjoy and think about the posts I send out into the world. The site has had over 40,000 views. This one replaced an older website, rrontheroad.com, where I journaled my years living abroad and other travels with photos and stories. A few of those stories have found new life in this blog.

The past year, 2025, was a year of international travel for me. Although I have never had a bucket list, there have been a few things I’ve wanted to see and do, and this year they came together: Aztec and Mayan ruins across Mexico in January, a return to do an English immersion week in Spain in June with a visit to Gaudi architecture, prehistoric painted caves of southern France in September with a few days to visit friends living in Portugal and Prague. Looking back through the year’s posts, I couldn’t decide which photos, if any, to include in this year end piece, but this one from Chamula, Mexico, stood out and captured my heart.

 Happy New Year!

Here’s hoping that 2026 will be a good year for you — a year of hope and positive change, or just warmth and enjoyment in your everyday world. After exploring ancient peoples and civilizations this year, I realize those places illustrate people throughout the ages working together to honor the things they believed in and held dear. My wish is that humans will evolve into more peaceful beings and learn to live together with friendship and acceptance for those who are different from us.

To leave you with a few images, here are some pretty little French towns and views passed along the way

South of France trip: Saintes, Saint-Césaire, Les Eyzies, Font-de-Gaume cave, Lascaux, Les Combarelles, Pech-Merle caves, L’Aven d’Orgnac, Sarlot, Chauvet, Montpelier, Arles, Marseilles, Cosquer

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