Lecture: The Origins of Art: Art in the Palaeolithic Era

Palaeolithic art offers us a fascinating insight into how our ancestors viewed the world around them. It bears witness to their ability to express their creativity and give form to their thoughts and emotions, thousands of years before the emergence of writing. These ‘works of art’, preserved for millennia, are precious records that allow us to explore our distant past and gain a better understanding of the artistic nature of prehistoric humans. Bertrand Roussel holds a PhD in prehistory and is director of the Archaeology Museums of Nice (Terra Amata and Cimiez). He has a particular interest in the links between science and art, as well as in the intersection of disciplines. He is the author or co-author of numerous books, such as *Le Guide des sites préhistoriques: Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur*, *Produire le feu de la préhistoire à nos jours*, *Les Temps suspendus*, *Langage de pierre*, *La Grande Aventure du feu* and *Les Idées reçues de la préhistoire*.