Timeline

Heritage classified

Origin and history

The prehistoric cave of Saint-Sours, also known as the Lachaud Cave, is an archaeological site located in the commune of Terrasson-Lavilledieu, in the Dordogne department (Nouvelle-Aquitaine). This monument, dated from the Upper Paleolithic, illustrates traces of human occupation during the Prehistory, although the precise details of its use or its occupants are not explicitly documented in the available sources. Its classification as Historic Monument by decree of 13 February 1948 underlines its heritage importance and the need for its preservation.

During the Upper Paleolithic period, caves in the Aquitaine region were often used as shelters for nomadic hunter-gatherers. These natural spaces offered protection against weather and a temporary or seasonal place of life. Caves like Saint-Sours could also play a role in symbolic or artistic practices, as evidenced by other prehistoric sites in the region. However, current sources do not specify whether specific furniture or parietal remains have been discovered in this cave.

The location of the cave, reported as approximate with an accuracy deemed "passable" (note of 5/10), is located near the place-named Le Pouget, in Terrasson-Lavilledieu. Its cadastral address (park 976) and its official ranking make it a protected site, although the practical information about its visit or accessibility is not detailed in the available data. The cave is thus part of the landscape of the many prehistoric sites of the Dordogne, a department rich in testimonies of the first human occupations in Europe.

External links