Period of creation of engravings Paléolithique supérieur (≈ 1505000 av. J.-C.)
Engravings and drawings attributed to this period
14 mars 2024
Historical Monument
Historical Monument 14 mars 2024 (≈ 2024)
Full protection of the cave
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
The grotto of Fronsac, in its entirety, situated in Vieux-Mareuil, in the bottom of parcels No 464, No 465 and No 481 of section 579 A of the cadastre of the commune, as coloured in red on the plan annexed to the decree: classification by order of 14 March 2024
Origin and history
The Prehistoric Grotto of Fronsac, located in Vieux-Mareuil in the commune of Mareuil-en-Périgord (Dordogne), is a major archaeological site of the Upper Paleolithic. It extends over 106 metres of galleries spread over two floors, whose walls are decorated with engravings and drawings. These representations, attributed to the higher Paleolithic, include animal and especially human motifs, with a strong presence of male and female genital images, making it a rare testimony of parietal art of that time.
Classified as a Historical Monument by decree of 14 March 2024, the Grotto of Fronsac is protected in its entirety, including the cadastral plots on which it is located. The site is located in parcels Nos. 464, 465 and 481, section 579 A of the Mareuil-en-Périgord cadastre. Although its access and conditions of visit are not specified in the available sources, its archaeological importance is recognized, particularly for its engravings due to a pivotal period of prehistory.
The available data, from Monumentum, highlight the rich iconography of the cave, but also the uncertainties regarding its precise location, assessed as "passable" (note of 5/10). The site remains a remarkable example of the upper Paleolithic rock art in New Aquitaine, an area known for its dense prehistoric heritage, including the famous Lascaux or Eyzies-de-Tayac-Sireuil caves.
