vulcanology is a fairly ancient scientific discipline , with descriptions of dramatic eruptions run back at least as far as the year 79 C.E. , when Pliny the Elder voyage into the pyroclastic flows emerging from Vesuvius and his heir detail the unfolding death . Now , a study inPLOS ONEhas described what may be the earliest know image of erupting volcanoes . These painting , found in the Chauvet caves of France , are at least 36,000 geezerhood old .
This particular cave system was found to contain a series of paintings in 1994 . Among them were zoological garden of animals – a vulgar melodic theme inancient cave house painting . Examples of human handprints were also found there . However , some of the art was at the clip too abstract to be properly key .
Nearby , a unexampled geological resume was conducted in the Bas - Vivarais domain , which aimed to look at the geologic evolution of the area between 30,000 and 40,000 years ago . This co-occur with the menstruation of fourth dimension wherein the Chauvet cave system was occupied by humans . During this time , the geological survey reveal that 35 kilometers ( 22 sea mile ) forth from the cave system of rules , a major volcanic eruption took place in theVivarais volcanic field , a series of volcanoes spread over 500 square kilometers ( 193 square air mile ) .
This enquiry team , using geological mapping and isotopic geological dating , managed to provide the most accurate timings and accurate eruption characteristics of the volcanic bodily process of Vivarais to date . They observe that the activity browse from the calm and gushy ( lava flows , for example ) to the iridescent and vehement , with buried water and magma interacting explosively to spring volcanoes known asmaar volcanoes .
The map of the Chauvet cave system ( A ) , the general view of the “ Megaloceros panel ” ( B ) , and the detail of the spray - same paintings ( C ) . Nomade et al./PLOS ONE
Indeed , C dating technique show that the nearby Chauvet cave paintings were create during this time . The later phases of house painting focused around an extinct , deer - like tool called aMegaloceros . Painted using a cherry-red paint , perhaps trace with fingers , these Megaloceros appear to have a spraying - like feature emerge from their heads .
These spray shapes are unique among over 340 ornate cave painting sites in France and Spain , which made their identification problematic for a long fourth dimension . The authors of this study propose that they appear to resemble the typical lava fountains reminiscent of Strombolian eruptions , natural gas clout - induced volcanic explosions .
Sebastien Nomade , conduct author of the sketch , severalise IFLScience : “ We notice that the shape is resonant of lava fountain that a vernal kid could draw . ” Although it is impossible to be certain , the authors are conservatively confident of their discovery , remark that the strength of the eruptions could have meant that the original creative person belike felt compelled to paint them .
antecedently , volcanic imagery was found inCatalhoyukin central Turkey , and dated to be at least 8,000 years sometime . The Chauvet cave painting precede this Turkish example by around 28,000 year , and if the Vivarais eructation theory is accepted by the scientific community , its depiction in volcanic art will be the oldest in human chronicle to day of the month .
