Rock Art Masterclass with Camille Bourdier

Dr Camille Boudier is an archaeologist, rock art specialist and senior lecturer at Université Toulouse II - Jean Jaurès. Her research considers the rock art of past hunter-gatherers’ societies in France (Cussac Cave), and in Southern Africa (Zimbabwe) where she supervises an international interdisciplinary program on the Matopos World Heritage Living Landscape (https://matobart.huma-num.fr/la-recherche-archeologique/research/). Her visit aims to contribute to the development of two research axes central in her research and those conducted Centre for Rock Art Research + Management:

The connections to plant resources and land uses in Indigenous societies, with a specific focus on paint technologies. 

Camille is interested in developing an international scientific synergy around this innovative topic in rock art research. Building on her research on rock paintings in Zimbabwe, she is designing a joint interdisciplinary research project to:

- develop innovative applications of physico-chemical analysis to the identification of organic binders in rock art paintings;

- develop an experimental approach in archaeology for the identification of paint tools applying French techniques at the methodological forefront of this still-innovative research.

Heritage, socio-economic development, and local communities.

Camille will share her expertise in community and public outreach with lessons learnt from world heritage properties with which she is familiar: i.e. Matopos and in the French prehistoric caves (Chauvet, Lascaux etc.). Specifically, she will share her practices on:

• dissemination and outreach actions: accessibility to the rock art sites (physical/virtual visits; guides, booklets, QR technologies etc.), the role of innovative digital technologies for remote audience and local visitors;
• management of rock art sites: traditional uses, public regulation, conservation management and threats mitigation;
• local capacity-building: training and long-term job opportunities, youth awareness and attractivity of Archaeology as a means of social development.

This Masterclass is open to rock art researchers and practitioners. Registration required for catering purposes. The masterclass will be capped at 20 people.