Imagine discovering a portal to the Ice Age, not in a remote mountain range, but deep beneath the waves of the Mediterranean Sea. This is the astonishing reality of the Cosquer Cave, a Palaeolithic masterpiece hidden off the coast of Marseille, France. Unlike any other decorated cave known to humanity, its entrance lies an astounding 37 meters (121 feet) underwater, a testament to the dramatic shifts in global sea levels over millennia.

Discovered in 1985 by diver Henri Cosquer, the cave was initially kept a secret, with its incredible art only revealed to the world in 1991 after a tragic incident involving three divers.

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What they found inside was a breathtaking gallery of ancient art, dating back as far as 33,000 to 20,000 years Before Present (BP). The cave boasts over 200 parietal figures, including a diverse bestiary of animals such as horses, bison, ibex, and even surprising depictions of seals and penguins, animals that once thrived in the colder climate of the Ice Age when the sea level was significantly lower—up to 120 meters (394 feet) lower than today. At that time, the cave entrance would have been high and dry, far from the coastline.

The artworks, created with charcoal and pigments, provide invaluable insights into the lives and beliefs of our ancient ancestors. Beyond the animal figures, the cave also features abstract geometric signs and numerous hand stencils, some with missing or truncated fingers, whose meaning remains a subject of ongoing debate among archaeologists.

The preservation of this extraordinary site is largely due to its watery shroud, which protected it from human interference and environmental degradation for thousands of years.

However, the rising sea levels, a consequence of climate change, now pose a threat to the cave’s continued existence.

In a race against time, a full-sized replica of the Cosquer Cave, known as Cosquer Méditerranée, has been created in Marseille, allowing the public to experience this submerged wonder and ensuring its incredible legacy endures for future generations.