Timeline

Heritage classified

Origin and history

The cave of La Vacheresse is an adorned cave located in the south-east of France, in the commune of Vallon-Pont-d'Arc, in the department of Ardèche. It is part of a set of major prehistoric sites in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, reflecting human occupation and parietal art during Prehistory. Its designation as historic monuments, effective since 25 August 1995, underscores its heritage and archaeological importance.

The cave is located precisely in the place known as Plaine du Gras, on the territory of the municipality of Vallon-Pont-d'Arc. The available coordinates allow you to locate the site near the famous Combe d'Arc, an area rich in prehistoric remains. Although the details of the works or human traces that it contains are not explicitly described in the sources, its protected status indicates that it contains significant elements for understanding this period.

The inscription of the cave as a historical monument was formalized by a decree in 1995, marking its recognition as a cultural asset to be preserved. This protection applies specifically to the cave itself, identified under cadastral references E4 696 and 697. The site is thus integrated into inventories of the French heritage, notably via the Mérimée base, which lists protected monuments.

Available sources, such as Wikipedia and Monumentum, confirm its belonging to the prehistoric heritage ardéchois, without providing further details on its exploration or the discoveries made there. The cave is part of a wider network of similar sites, contributing to the development of the region's speleological and historical heritage.

The approximate location, indicated as satisfactory (level 7 on a precision scale), allows researchers and visitors to situate the monument in a geographical environment marked by karst formations. The associated postal address, 5746 La Combe d'Arc, facilitates its administrative and tourist identification.

Finally, the cave of La Vacheresse, although less publicized than other nearby prehistoric sites such as the Chauvet Cave, participates in the archaeological richness of the Ardèche. Its ranking reflects the effort to preserve the traces of the first human occupations in Europe, in a department already known for its prehistoric heritage.

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