This week, France in Focus heads underground to explore the "Sistine Chapel" of prehistory. Thirty years ago, three explorers discovered the Chauvet cave, a site in southeastern France that was cut off from the world for thousands of years. Inside, paintings and engravings dating back 36,000 years decorate the walls. The site is sealed off to the general public, but each year a team of scientists heads inside to try to work out what life was like at the time. FRANCE 24's Jon Walsh and Joanna Cockerell report.

With thanks to the scientific team for the footage filmed inside the Chauvet cave.