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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

Laugerie-Basse is a rock shelter located in the commune of Eyzies-de-Tayac-Sireuil, Dordogne, on the right bank of the Vézère. This prehistoric site, occupied at the Upper Paleolithic, consists of two distinct shelters: the "classical" shelter (whose cover is completely covered by troglodyte houses) and the shelter of the Marseilles, located 50 meters upstream, part of which remains preserved under scrambles. The latter is now accessible to visitors. The site has delivered iconic objects such as the impudent Venus (female statuette with a broken head) and the Reindeer Woman, two major Magdalenian works.

The first excavations, conducted in the 1860s by Édouard Lartet, did not accurately document stratigraphy. It was established around World War I, revealing four phases of the Magdalenian (stages III to VI) during Würm IV. Among the 600 objects discovered, these furniture works testify to the cultural richness of Paleolithic societies. The site, which was listed as a historical monument in 1940 and acquired by the Dordogne department in 2011, is also protected as an archaeological site (1977) and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979, as Prehistoric Sites and Caves adorned with the Vézère Valley.

In 2022, the site attracted 58,000 visitors, in association with the nearby Grand Roc cave. Its strategic location, 2 km northwest of the village of Eyzies and in the immediate vicinity of Route D47, makes it a key place to understand the prehistoric human occupation in this region. The successive protections underline its scientific and heritage importance, while subsequent excavations (such as those of Paul Hurault and Louis Landesque) have enriched the paleolithic art collections.

The published studies, notably by Henri Breuil (1935) or Alain Roussot (1974), analysed specific objects such as carved lamps or women's representations, contributing to the site's reputation. In particular, reindeer women have been the subject of interpretative controversies, illustrated by the work of Brigitte and Gilles Delluc (2002). This research highlights the realism and symbolism of Magdalenian works, while highlighting the challenges posed by their conservation and interpretation.

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