Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Musée de la Préhistoire du Vercors originated in the prospecting of Dr.Malenfant in the late 1960s. In May 1970, he discovered in Vassieux-en-Vercors a flint-size workshop of the final Neolithic (2700–2400 BC), intact after 4,500 years of abandonment. This exceptional site, protected by an agricultural pierrier, reveals a production of large blades (18–25 cm) by artisans trained in the pressignian technique, probably from Grand-Pressigny (Indre-et-Loire). The workshop, operated on a seasonal basis, bears witness to a network of exchange and specialised crafts.

The museum opened in 1978 to enhance this discovery, classified as a Historical Monument in 1983. A first building of 320 m2 (1980) was enlarged in 1991 and completely renovated in 2007 in an eco-responsible manner. The museum trail, designed with archaeologists, traces the prehistoric settlement of Vercors. The contemporary architecture, signed Bernard Cogne, integrates wood and concrete to harmonize with the Regional Natural Park, while preserving the underground remains.

The archaeological site, the heart of the museum, shows a workshop organized in degrossing pits and cutting areas. Local flint blades, intended for prestigious tools, weapons or objects, illustrate advanced technical mastery. The museum, labeled Musée de France, combines conservation, research and mediation, with flint-sized demonstrations. Its regional role is affirmed as a reference in prehistoric archaeology, linked to a territory marked by neolithic craftsmanship and sustainable heritage management.

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