Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Christian Guth Museum, located in Ally (Haute-Loire), houses an exceptional collection of fossils discovered on the Chilhac site since 1966. These remains, dating back about 2 million years, bear witness to a variety of fauna: mastodontes (including the first European skull of Anancus arvernensis chihiacensis), deer (like the entire skeleton of Cervus philisi), elephants, rhinoceros, horses, hyenas, bears, tigers, beavers, porcupines, and birds of the Anseriform family. Plant fingerprints and lithic tools, evidence of the presence of dihominids 1.9 million years ago, complement these discoveries.

Set in an ancient presbytery overlooking the Allier, the museum enjoys a remarkable geological setting, with basaltic organs visible from the cliff. The building, classified as Musée de France, is located in the square of the church of Chilhac (code INSEE 43066), in the department of Haute-Loire. The excavations, which have been carried out for more than half a century, have enabled the reconstruction of a prehistoric ecosystem unique in Europe, attracting researchers and enthusiasts.

The masterpieces include the skull of the mastodont Anancus arvernensis chihiacensis — a first in Europe — and the complete skeleton of a deer Cervus philisi, discovered in anatomical connection. These fossils, combined with stone tools, suggest a cohabitation between primitive humans and a megafauna that is now extinct. The museum thus highlights an unknown page of the Auvergne prehistory, while offering a panorama of the methods of excavation and paleontological study.

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