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Oceanic rock art: first direct dating of prehistoric stencils and paintings from New Caledonia (Southern Melanesia)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Christophe Sand ,
Hélène Valladas ,
Hélène Cachier ,
Nadine Tisnérat-Laborde ,
Maurice Arnold ,
Jacques Bolé  and
André Ouetcho
Christophe Sand
Affiliation:
1Département d'Archéologie, Musée de Nouvelle-Calédonie, BP: 2393, 98846 Nouméa, New Caledonia
Hélène Valladas
Affiliation:
2Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'Environnement, UMR CEA-CNRS 1572, Bât. 12, F-91198 Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France
Hélène Cachier
Affiliation:
2Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'Environnement, UMR CEA-CNRS 1572, Bât. 12, F-91198 Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France
Nadine Tisnérat-Laborde
Affiliation:
2Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'Environnement, UMR CEA-CNRS 1572, Bât. 12, F-91198 Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France
Maurice Arnold
Affiliation:
3Laboratoire de Mesure du Carbone 14, UMS 2572, Bât. 450, CEA Saclay, F-91191 Gif sur Yvette Cedex, France
Jacques Bolé
Affiliation:
1Département d'Archéologie, Musée de Nouvelle-Calédonie, BP: 2393, 98846 Nouméa, New Caledonia
André Ouetcho
Affiliation:
1Département d'Archéologie, Musée de Nouvelle-Calédonie, BP: 2393, 98846 Nouméa, New Caledonia
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Extract

Rock art in an inland cave on the island of Lifou, New Caledonia, has been radiocarbon dated. A cluster of early paintings date to 2500 years ago, soon after the arrival of the first settlers, who must have quickly gone inland probably in pursuit of fresh water, available near the cave. They left their mark on the cave in the form of numerous hand stencils. During the first millennium AD, later generations of artists used the same cave, drawing birds and a circular sign for water still recognised by the present community.

Keywords

MelanesiaNew CaledoniaLapita culturecave arthand stencilsAMS dating
Type
Research
Information
Antiquity , Volume 80 , Issue 309 , 1 September 2006 , pp. 523 - 529
Copyright
Copyright © Antiquity Publications Ltd. 2006

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