It
is commonplace for Les Eyzies
to be introduced as the world's prehistoric capital and the numerous painted caves and, particularly, the proliferation
of rock shelters only confirm this notion. The most varied prehistoric, and historic, styles and periods are represented,
making Les Eyzies the archetypal town for travelling through the past. This vast, motionless promenade will enable
us to appreciate more thoroughly the passing of prehistoric time. From La Micoque to Laugerie-Basse. from 300,000
to 5000 years B.C., prehistory at Les Eyzies lasted sixty times longer than history and one hundred and fifty times
longer than the Christian era.
Even
if you only have a passing interest in prehistoric times, Les Eyzies
would be worth a visit. if only for its site. At the confluence
of the Vezere and the Beune. the little village. out of which rises
an old castle converted into a museum. clings to the bottom of tall
cliffs containing shelters, caves and troglodyte dwellings. crowned
with green oaks and juniper trees. Having crossed the Vezere. a
little road which winds between the river and the rocks follows
the prehistoric "Royal road" an unimaginable succession
of caves and shelters in an impressive framework of cliffs.
The
chalk uplands which surround Les Eyzies are
rich in flint, crisss-crossed with dozens of secret clefts and valleys,
dominated by cliffs with hidden caves made fine hunting country
for prehistoric man. Solid natural materials abound for making weapons
and tools, and the shelter of the rock formations made the Périgord
a perfect place to live. 100,000 years ago neanderthal man walked
the valley of the Dordogne and left sufficient remains to make it
a focal point of prehistory. Although he was named after the small
valley in Germany where, in 1856, bines were found that fit his
description, it was at Le Moustier, near Les
Eyzies, that archaeologists first catalogued his weapons
and tools.
The oldest human skeletal remains found in the Dordogne are of Neanderthal Man. The Moustier
site yielded three complete skeletons another was found at Le Rigourdou, and at La Ferrassie, near Le Bugue, seven
were unearthed, including some young children's. These skeletons reveal that Neanderthal Man rarely lived to the
age of thirty, and had Sophisticated burial rites involving funeral ceremonies. In some cases. the bodies were
placed in dug graves and covered with earth, stones or slabs. Such respect for the dead must surely indicate that
Neanderthal Man was capable of Philosophical reflection and perhaps a belief in an after life.
If you are looking for Restaurantes, Cafes and Places of Interest
in the Dorodgne try
Property Search
Property for Sale in France
It
is commonplace for Les Eyzies
to be introduced as the world's prehistoric capital and the numerous painted caves and, particularly, the proliferation
of rock shelters only confirm this notion. The most varied prehistoric, and historic, styles and periods are represented,
making Les Eyzies the archetypal town for travelling through the past. This vast, motionless promenade will enable
us to appreciate more thoroughly the passing of prehistoric time. From La Micoque to Laugerie-Basse. from 300,000
to 5000 years B.C., prehistory at Les Eyzies lasted sixty times longer than history and one hundred and fifty times
longer than the Christian era.
Even
if you only have a passing interest in prehistoric times, Les Eyzies
would be worth a visit. if only for its site. At the confluence
of the Vezere and the Beune. the little village. out of which rises
an old castle converted into a museum. clings to the bottom of tall
cliffs containing shelters, caves and troglodyte dwellings. crowned
with green oaks and juniper trees. Having crossed the Vezere. a
little road which winds between the river and the rocks follows
the prehistoric "Royal road" an unimaginable succession
of caves and shelters in an impressive framework of cliffs.
The
chalk uplands which surround Les Eyzies are
rich in flint, crisss-crossed with dozens of secret clefts and valleys,
dominated by cliffs with hidden caves made fine hunting country
for prehistoric man. Solid natural materials abound for making weapons
and tools, and the shelter of the rock formations made the Périgord
a perfect place to live. 100,000 years ago neanderthal man walked
the valley of the Dordogne and left sufficient remains to make it
a focal point of prehistory. Although he was named after the small
valley in Germany where, in 1856, bines were found that fit his
description, it was at Le Moustier, near Les
Eyzies, that archaeologists first catalogued his weapons
and tools.
The oldest human skeletal remains found in the Dordogne are of Neanderthal Man. The Moustier
site yielded three complete skeletons another was found at Le Rigourdou, and at La Ferrassie, near Le Bugue, seven
were unearthed, including some young children's. These skeletons reveal that Neanderthal Man rarely lived to the
age of thirty, and had Sophisticated burial rites involving funeral ceremonies. In some cases. the bodies were
placed in dug graves and covered with earth, stones or slabs. Such respect for the dead must surely indicate that
Neanderthal Man was capable of Philosophical reflection and perhaps a belief in an after life.
