Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The collections of the Musée départemental de Préhistoire come from the work of the Académie de Mâcon, which gathered them in 1925. These objects, resulting from excavations carried out since the discovery of the site in 1866, reflect the research of the late 19th-century prehistorians, such as A. Arcelin, H. de Ferry and Abbé Ducrost. The pieces were initially exhibited in a dedicated room from 1950, before being enriched by depots of the Museum of the Ursulines of Mâcon and the State, as well as by contributions from other institutions and individuals during the museum redesign of 2013-2014.

The museum, housed in a concrete building buried at the foot of the Solutré rock, presents a complete panorama of the cultures of the Upper Paleolithic, with special attention for the Solutrean, period marked by flint tools in the form of "laurel leaves". The site, frequented for more than 50,000 years, bears witness to the hunting, slaughtering and scapegoating of horses and reindeer by prehistoric men. It is now recognized as one of the richest prehistoric deposits in Europe, offering a unique dive into the lives of hunter-gatherers between 50,000 and 10,000 years B.C.E.

The excavations conducted by J. Combier between 1967 and 1978 significantly enriched the collections, supplemented by loans from prestigious institutions such as the Musée des Confluences, the Musée d'archéologie nationale, or the INRAP. The museum, labeled "Musée de France", is distinguished by its discreet integration into the landscape, thus preserving the authenticity of the classified site. Its role is both scientific, educational and heritage, highlighting an archaeological heritage of global importance.

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