Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The prehistoric deposit of Pech de l'Azé, located in the commune of Carsac-Aillac in Dordogne (Nouvelle-Aquitaine), is a set of five caves (Pech I to V) dug in the valley of Énéa, a tributary of the Dordogne. Discovered in 1816 by François Jouannet, the site quickly became a reference for the study of Middle Paleolithic, thanks to excavations carried out by figures such as Abbé Audierne (1828), É. Lartet and H. Christy (1864), then François Bordes and Maurice Bourgon in the 20th century. Ranked a historic monument in 1927, it revealed Neanderthal remains, including a child's skull dated between 41,000 and 51,000 years, as well as tools characteristic of the Moustarian of Acheulean tradition (MTA).

The successive excavations, notably those of François Bordes (1954, 1970-1971), allowed to define 10 archaeological levels in Pech I, while Pech II, discovered in 1949, delivered sediments dating from Riss and Würm I. Geologic analyses by Jean-Pierre Texier (2006) identified seven phases of site evolution related to the climatic variations of the Quaternary. The discoveries include "tail-to-tail" fireplaces, manganese dioxide pigments used to dye skins, and an engraved bone originally interpreted as an artistic work, but ultimately attributed to natural vascular furrows.

The site was also marked by scientific controversies, such as the contradictory dating of the layers of Pech II (Grün & Stringer, 1991) questioning the interpretations of Bordes and Laville. In 1999, Marie Solessi and her team resumed the study of the materials of the 1970-1971 excavations, supplemented by new investigations in 2004-2005. This work confirmed the importance of Pech de l'Azé in understanding the symbolic behaviors of the Neandertalians, long before Homo sapiens arrived in Europe. Today, the deposit is protected by a wooden gate and shelter to preserve the remains of the weather and intrusions.

The caves of the Pech de l'Azé occupy a strategic geological position, on the eastern edge of the Aquitaine basin, between the Cretaceae formations of the Périgord and the Jurassic plateaus of Quercy. Their proximity to other major sites, such as the Roc de Combe Cave (Lot), underscores their key role in prehistoric settlement networks. Recent studies, such as those of Daniel Richter (2017), continue to refine the chronology of human occupations, notably for the rare variant of Asinipodian (82 000-70,000 years) identified by Bordes.

The site is also distinguished by the richness of its material remains: more than 250 blocks of pigments at Pech I, carved flint tools, and wildlife remains associated with human occupations. The interior fireplaces, sometimes located deep in the caves, reveal adaptations to the severe climatic conditions of the Pleistocene. Finally, the protections introduced in 2000 (grill) and 2005 (shelter) illustrate efforts to preserve this exceptional heritage, while allowing researchers to deepen their understanding of Neanderthal lifestyles in southwestern France.

External links