The Cosquer Cave located in Cap Morgiou, Marseille, France, was accidentally discovered in 1985 by a diver, Henri Cosquer, deep under the sea but its paintings were not mentioned until 1991 after three divers died in the cave when they got lost.
Its entrance is about 37 meters (121 feet) underwater. This underwater entrance suggests that sea levels were significantly lower during the time the cave was inhabited by prehistoric humans. During the glacial periods of the Pleistocene, the shore of the Mediterranean was several kilometers to the south and the sea level up to 100 m (330 ft) below the entrance of the cave.
At present day, the cave can only be accessed by divers using its entrance located 37 m (121 ft) below sea level, through a 175 m (574 ft) long tunnel. before reaching a huge chamber that partly remained above the sea and where many prehistoric paintings and engravings are preserved on the walls, as well as remains on the ground (charcoal from fires and torches, a few flint tools).
This is the only painted cave in the world with an entrance below present-day sea level where cave art has been preserved from the flooding that occurred when the seas rose after the end of the last glaciation.
The cave contains around 600 paintings and engravings, which are predominantly of animals such as horses, bison, ibex and seals, as well as numerous hand stencils. These works of art provide valuable information about the lives and beliefs of the people who inhabited the region during the Upper Paleolithic period.
Due to the unique underwater entrance and the fragile nature of the cave's contents, access to the cave is strictly regulated, and special permission is required for research or scientific exploration. In recent years, efforts have been made to study and preserve the cave and its invaluable cultural heritage.
