Timeline

Heritage classified

Origin and history

The site of the Grotto des Fraux, located in Saint-Martin-de-Fressengeas in the Dordogne department (Nouvelle-Aquitaine), is a historical monument classified for its remains dating from the Bronze Age. This place bears witness to an ancient human occupation, marked by traces of parietal art, providing valuable insight into the artistic and cultural practices of prehistoric societies of this period.

Parcels B 1427, 1428 and 1429 of the site were listed as historical monuments by an order of 24 October 1995, recognizing their heritage value. The cave, partially situated on a communal and private land, preserves fragile archaeological elements, whose approximate location (noted 5/10 precisely) reflects the challenges of preserving and studying this type of site.

At the Bronze Age, the local communities of the region, now New Aquitaine, lived mainly in agriculture, livestock and handicrafts. Caves like Fraux often served as shelters, places of worship or burials, playing a central role in spiritual and social life. The parietal art discovered on site suggests a symbolic or ritual dimension, although the precise details of its use remain partially unknown in the absence of written sources.

Available data from the Merimée database and Monumentum highlight the importance of the site for understanding regional prehistory. However, practical information on access to the public (visits, services) is not specified in the sources consulted, limiting details of its contemporary use.

External links