Sessions

Session I: Materials, supports and techniques

This session is dedicated to the study of raw materials, their preparation, the management of supports, and the technical strategies implemented in the visual and material production of prehistoric societies. It addresses the modes of acquisition and exploitation of resources, as well as the processes involved in the transformation of materials. Particular attention is given to the tools used in artistic production, the methods of decorating objects, and the selection of supports.

Session II: Spaces, territories and environments

This session examines the relationships between geological and environmental contexts and the settlement choices of prehistoric societies. It explores how these constraints and opportunities influenced patterns of mobility, exchange networks, and the structuring of cultural territories. The interactions between environment, graphic practices, and technical choices constitute a central focus of this discussion.

Session III: Gesture, knowledge and traditions

Drawing on prehistoric remains, this session focuses on processes of learning, the transmission of knowledge, and the operational sequences underlying symbolic practices. Experimental approaches make it possible to analyze prehistoric art through the lens of gestures, technical know-how, and cognitive dimensions. The study of both parietal and portable representations contributes to a better understanding of symbolic systems, their transmission, and the role of traditions and cultural codifications.

Session IV: Contextualizing, valuing and reassessing: historical and heritage perspectives

This session offers a critical reflection on the development of prehistoric research in light of contemporary disciplinary approaches. It examines the influence of past and present paradigms on the interpretation of prehistoric representations and opens perspectives for future research. Issues related to scientific responsibility, conservation, public outreach, and the preservation of prehistoric sites and objects occupy a central place in this discussion.