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Tracking in Caves: Experience Based Reading of Pleistocene Human Footprints in French Caves

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 May 2015

Andreas Pastoors
Affiliation:
Neanderthal Museum, Talstrasse 300, D-40822 Mettmann, Germanypastoors@neanderthal.de
Tilman Lenssen-Erz
Affiliation:
African Archaeology, Institute of Prehistoric Archaeology, University of Cologne, Jennerstrasse 8, D-50823 Köln, Germanylenssen.erz@uni-koeln.de
Tsamkxao Ciqae
Affiliation:
c/o Nyae Nyae Conservancy, Tsumkwe, Namibiasmallboy87@hotmail.com
Ui Kxunta
Affiliation:
c/o Nyae Nyae Conservancy, Tsumkwe, Namibia
Thui Thao
Affiliation:
c/o Nyae Nyae Conservancy, Tsumkwe, Namibia
Robert Bégouën
Affiliation:
Association Louis Bégouën, Laboratoire de Préhistoire de Pujol, F-09200 Montesquieu-Avantès, Francerobert.begouen@wanadoo.fr
Megan Biesele
Affiliation:
Kalahari Peoples Fund, P.O. Box 7855, Austin TX 78713–7855, USAmeganbie@gmail.com
Jean Clottes
Affiliation:
11, Rue du Fourcat, F-09000 Foix, Francej.clottes@wanadoo.fr

Abstract

Some of the painted caves in southern France preserve human footprints from the Ice Age of 17,000 years ago. Research has so far dealt with them sparsely and through a morphometric approach only. In 2013 three indigenous hunters/trackers from the Kalahari had an opportunity to read several spoor accumulations in four caves on the basis of their indigenous knowledge. As a result of this morpho-classificatory approach to track reading they produced new hypotheses on prehistoric cave visitors. Most spectacular is the narrative which the trackers generated from the footprints not far from the clay bison at Tuc d’Audoubert. Further research is planned to inspect more tracks and look into the epistemological status of the indigenous tracking method.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © The McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research 2015 

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