%0 Journal Article
%T Prehistory and coastal karst area: Cosquer Cave and the ¡°Calanques¡± of Marseille
%A Collina-Girard
%A J.
%J Speleogenesis and Evolution of Karst Aquifers
%D 2004
%I 
%X The Cosquer Cave is a French Palaeolithic painted and engraved cave (27.000-18.500 BP), which is located under the sea, in the Urgonian limestones of Cap Morgiou (¡°Massif des Calanques¡±, Marseille). The entrance was submerged at the end of the Last Glacial Stage and is presently 37 m under sea level. A synthesis about the Cosquer Cave environmental studies is presented here. Structural studies show that caves planimetry is determined by Cap Morgiou jointing (mainly NW-SE and N-S vertical faults). Through archaeological studies, a speleothem breaking period can be dated between 27.000 and 18.000 BP. Geomorphologic study of the continental shelf at the foot of the Cosquer Cave area shows fossil shorelines at -36 m, -50/55 m, -90 m, -100 m depth. Radiocarbon dating from shells collected in -100m sediments yielded a date of 13.250 BP. Direct scuba diving observations and submarine cliff profiles sket-ching show several eustatic still stand- levels between -36m and the current sea surface indicating a probable tectonic stability during the last 10.000 years.
%K Prehistory
%K karst
%K Cosquer Cave
%K fossil shorelines
%K France.
%U http://www.speleogenesis.info/archive/publication.php?PubID=3265&Type=publication