Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The cave of La Salpêtrière is a deep rock shelter located in the commune of Remoulins, in the department of Gard (Occitanie region, formerly Languedoc-Roussillon). It is 200 metres downstream of the Pont du Gard, on the right bank, near the communal boundary with Vers-Pont-du-Gard. This site is famous for delivering one of the most complete stratigraphics of the Upper Paleolithic in the French Mediterranean, covering levels from the Aurignacian to the Chalcolithic. It is the eponymous site of the Salpetrian, a culture dated about 19,000 years before the present, identified by archaeological excavations.

The excavations, initiated in 1872, revealed successive human occupations: Aurignacian, Gravettien, Solutreen, Salpetrian, Magdalenian, Neolithic and Chalcolithic. Among the notable discoveries is a saïga (Saiga tatarica) twig associated with the Tardiglaciary (Würm IV, ~16,050 to 9,700 BC). These archaeological layers reflect a continuous and diversified occupation, reflecting the adaptations of human groups to climate and environmental change at the end of Prehistory.

The cave was classified as Historic Monuments on 19 June 1931, recognizing its scientific importance. It is not open to the public, thus preserving its integrity for future research. On-site studies, such as those of Max Escalon de Fonton or G. Boccaccio, have helped to define the technical characteristics of the upper Solutrean and Salpetrian lithic industries, highlighting the ruptures and continuitys between these prehistoric cultures.

The site is part of a karst landscape typical of Gardon gorges, close to other prehistoric remains. Its strategic location, close to a permanent water source (the Gardon) and rich hunting areas, explains its attraction for paleolithic groups. Recent research, such as the thesis by Maryline Rillardon (2010), has deepened the understanding of the livelihood strategies and environment of the last hunter-gatherers in the region, from the Upper Pleniglacial (20 000 years BP) to the climate optimum (8 000 years BP).

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