| In the field of rock art studies, France and South Africa are two regions of primary importance, with an exceptional heritage. Since 1929 and the first visit in South Africa of the French rock art pioneer Henri Breuil, the cooperation of the two countries has been very strong in the field. France and South Africa have developed different, yet particularly complementary, approaches to rock art focused. In France focus was put on the advanced study of archaeological material and drawings, and in South Africa, on the systematic collection of indigenous knowledge. Over the past ten years, following the return to Democracy in South Africa, teams from the two countries reinitiated collaborations, by putting in common the complementarity of approaches and techniques developed in both countries. Members of participating institutions from Région Île-de-France and South Africa are therefore developing a strong collaboration in the field. Activities within the ARCUS "Art rupestre" programme aim at fostering research in the field of rock art, by bringing closer an analytical cluster in Île-de-France, with the support of archaeological teams, and major South African actors of rock art studies. | |  |
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 Objectives
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This programme is developed around:
• An analytical cluster located in région Île-de-France: the new SOLEIL synchrotron (Gif-sur-Yvette) that develops since 2004 a specific liaison office dedicated to archaeology and cultural heritage, the Centre National de la Préhistoire (National Prehistory Centre, CNP/DAPA, Paris / Périgueux), the Centre de recherche et de restauration des musées de France (Centre of research and restoration of the French museums, Louvre, Paris) and a team from the Laboratoire des sciences du climat et de l'environnement (Laboratory of the sciences of climate and environment, Gif-sur-Yvette) specialised in dating methods.
• And South African archaeological partners: the Rock Art Research Institute (RARI, Johannesburg) and the Archaeology Department from the University of Cape Town, two major institutions dedicated to the study of rock art in South Africa. RARI is currently fast developing with its reinstallation at the centre of a museum dedicated to rock art (Origins centre, Johannesburg)
The programme is divided into two activities:
• Rock-art microanalysis. This comprises the fine analysis of materials in order to improve dating techniques and preservation means of rock art sites in France and South Africa. It brings together world-class institutes in archaeology and an exceptional analytical cluster covering the main needs in physicochemical methods from advanced material analysis to the direct dating of drawings, and includes the study of their archaeological context. A 18-month post-doctoral position shared between several participating institutions is funded in this framework.
• Training. This activity aims at benefiting as strongly as possible from the diversity of the approaches between the two countries by supporting the organisation of joint training activities.
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Scientific Partners:
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Reflecting the complementarity that exists in the approaches developed in France and South Africa, the programme gathers:
In South Africa, teams from:
• Rock Art Research Institute, Johannesburg (RARI)
• Spatial Archaeology Research Unit/Archaeology Dept., University of Cape Town (SARU)
In Région Île-de-France, teams from:
• Synchrotron SOLEIL, Gif-sur-Yvette
• Centre National de Préhistoire, Paris (CNP/DAPA)
• Laboratoire des sciences du climat et de l’environnement, Gif-sur-Yvette (LSCE)
• Centre de recherche et de restauration des musées de France, Paris (C2RMF)
All these partners also take part in an international research network (GDRI-STAR) under the patronage of the French Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) to foster cooperation in the field of rock art research between France and South Africa.
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Sponsoring Institutions:
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Activities:
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• 18-month post-doc on rock art materials microanalysis.
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• Materials Microanalysis and Dating for Rock Art Studies Workshop: Clanwilliam 28th September - 5th October 2008
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