Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Ferrassie prehistoric deposit, located in Savignac-de-Miremont, Dordogne (Nouvelle-Aquitaine), is an archaeological complex composed of a cave, a small shelter and the "Grand Shelter of Ferrassie". This site, integrated with the adorned caves of the Vézère valley, has delivered exceptional remains of eight Neandertalians, including adults, children and a fetus, dating from the Châtelperronien. The excavations revealed flint tools, reindeer bones, and engraved blocks, providing a unique insight into funeral practices and coexistence between Neandertalians and Homo sapiens.

The first excavations, carried out from 1896 to 1929 by Denis Peyrony and Louis Capitan, and then from 1968 to 1973 by Henri Delporte, allowed to define a stratigraphy rich of nearly 10 meters, covering the Middle and Upper Paleolithic. The site has been listed as a Historic Monument since 1960 and integrated into the major site of Aquitaine in 2015. The burials, like that of the child "La Ferrassie 8" (2 years old), confirm neandertal funeral rites in Western Europe before the arrival of modern men.

The stratigraphic sequence of the large shelter played a key role in the definition of lithic industries, including the "Ferrassia-type Moustarian", characterized by Levallois scrapers and biting. The upper layers, attributed to the Upper Périgordian (Gravetian), show a continuous occupation. Since 2015, new excavations have exhumed tools, reindeer bones, and blocks engraved with schematic figures, enriching the knowledge on this emblematic site.

The Ferrasian valley, occupying the north and south shores to the Bernoux cave, also reveals a Celto-Gaulian and ancient occupation, with engravings, bas-reliefs, and cult structures dating back to the Iron Age. These recent discoveries (since 2020) highlight the multicultural importance of the site, far beyond Prehistory.

Neanderthal burials, such as those of individuals LF1 (aged 40 years) and LF2 (aged 25-35 years), placed head to head, or LF6 (aged 3-5 years under a limestone slab marked with cupules), illustrate complex funeral practices. The foetus LF5, accompanied by flint tools, suggests ritual deposits. These discoveries, although limited by the length of the excavations, remain a reference for the study of Neanderthals.

Finally, the Ferrassie site, located near Route D 32E5 between Savignac-de-Miremont and Le Bugue, is a key location for understanding the cultural transitions of Paleolithic. Its ranking and recent excavations make it a must-see scientific and historical heritage, linked to institutions such as the Laboratoire de paleontologie humaine de Paris.

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