Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Gorges Cave, located in Châtenois in the Jura, is a major archaeological site of the ancient Upper Paleolithic. Excavations conducted in 2008-2009 revealed traces of human occupation with unpublished data on the continental paleoenvironment of that time. The site is particularly distinguished by the presence of shallow parietal engravings, made on the walls and on limestone blocks, as well as by more discreet paintings. These discoveries include animal representations and symbolic motifs, which are still being studied.

The artistic elements revealed, although fragile, confirm the importance of this site to understand the cultural and artistic expressions of Paleolithic societies in Burgundy-Franche-Comté. The cave, which has been fully protected since 2013, covers two communes (Arange and Châtenois) and is a rare testimony to the symbolic practices and daily life of hunter-gatherers of the time. Its state of conservation and its location in karst environments are a special study for archaeologists.

Registration to the Historic Monuments in 2013 helped preserve this exceptional heritage, while highlighting its scientific potential. Research continues to identify other figures and specify the chronology of human occupations on this site, the geographical accuracy of which remains limited (level 5/10 depending on the sources).

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