Shotcrete Construction Gets the Ultimate Artistic Treatment

April 10, 2015

Original Chauvet Drawing, Now Replicated with Shotcrete!
Example of the artwork from the original Grotte Chauvet.

Shotcrete makes international news again, this time in the world of prehistoric art. At Thorcon Shotcrete and Shoring in Littleton, Colorado, we love seeing gunite concrete and shotcrete construction gain attention worldwide, so we are excited to comment on this brand new story, coming to us from France.

Anyone who has taken a basic art history class will be familiar with the famous Grotte Chauvet cave in France—where the ancient drawings of wild animals are considered the oldest examples of human art in the world. Many people have seen photos of these drawings, but due to the fragile nature of prehistoric art, the general public has never actually been allowed inside the cave. Now, people will be able to visit a complete replica of the caverns, thanks to a 55 million euro project called the Pont d’Arc Cavern. EuroNews reports today that the new cave— in which the original topography was replicated using a shotcrete base—will be open for public tours starting on April 25. With over 400 replicated images spanning across over 25 square feet of replicated cave structures, the Pont d’Arc Cavern is a fascinating example of the structural precision available using shotcrete and gunite technology.

At Thorcon, we utilize the same technology to bring you architectural shotcrete solutions as well as structural applications for commercial shotcrete and industrial gunite needs. We pride ourselves on providing unique, custom solutions for any infrastructure requirement, and we put a focus on safety and precision in all our work. Serving Denver, the rest of Colorado and states in the surrounding region, we are your best bet for premium, long-lasting shotcrete and shoring solutions. Check out our gallery for visual examples of our work, and get in touch with us today to get started on your own project. You don’t need to be replicating an ancient artistic masterpiece to get the highest quality work from Thorcon!

(Image attribution: by Inocybe at fr.wikipedia [Public domain], from Wikimedia Commons)