Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The cave of La Mouthe is a cave decorated with the Upper Paleolithic located in the commune of Eyzies-de-Tayac, Dordogne. It houses more than 200 prints and paintings depicting animals such as bison, horses, reindeer and mammoths, as well as geometric signs, including a tectiforme. This site is one of fifteen caves classified in 1979 as UNESCO World Heritage under the title "prehistoric sites and caves adorned with the Vézère Valley".

The discovery of the Mouthe cave marked a turning point in the recognition of prehistoric art. It is the fourth adorned Paleolithic cave discovered, and its parietal art is the third published, after the caves Chabot (Gard) and Altamira (Spain). The excavations, conducted by Émile Rivière from 1895, revealed parietal engravings and remarkable objects, such as a paleolithic lamp engraved with a bouquetin.

The cave has been listed as a Historic Monument since 11 June 1953 and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979. Today, it is closed to the public for conservation reasons. His exploration was also marked by controversies, such as that of an alleged "Paleolithic Venus" discovered in 1964, whose authenticity is strongly questioned by experts.

The site is located at the foot of the Cingle cliff, about 1.1 km south of the Eyzies. It must not be confused with another hamlet of the same name located in Manaurie. The cave played a key role in the study of parietal art, thanks in particular to the work of Émile Rivière, which opened a 100-metre tunnel linking the entrance to the adorned part.

Among the objects discovered, a paleolithic sandstone lamp, found near the entrance, is particularly notable. It measures 17 × 20 cm and is engraved with bouquetin. This lamp is one of the few to possess a shaped handle, making it an important object of study to understand the techniques and uses of the time.

External links