The UNESCO organization recognized the prehistoric archaeological site in the Dordogne Valley and the caves in the Vézère Valley of France as a World Cultural Heritage site in 1979.
Prehistoric Archaeological Site in the Dordogne Valley and Caves in the Vézère Valley
The prehistoric archaeological site in the Dordogne Valley and the caves in the Vézère Valley are located in the Lascaux and Montignac regions of France. These areas contain numerous rock engravings. In the Vézère Valley, there are about 150 prehistoric sites dating back to the Stone Age and 25 decorated caves featuring rock carvings.
The artifacts, relics, paintings, and rock engravings found in the Dordogne Valley contain the largest collection of prehistoric art in Europe and the world.
The prehistoric archaeological site in the Dordogne Valley, discovered in 1940, is a significant testament to the history of prehistoric art. Within this archaeological site, archaeologists found rock engravings that detail the hunting life of prehistoric humans. Notably, the findings in the Dordogne Valley and the Vézère Valley demonstrate a shared artistic perspective. More than 100 rock engravings depict hunting scenes with rich colors that are considered to be of high quality for that era. Scientists believe that tens of thousands of years ago, the terrain and rock structures in this area were different from today, making it easier to create such images. After being buried in obscurity and covered by many layers of soil and rock for an extended time, archaeologists faced significant challenges in excavating this artistic evidence without causing damage. During their research, archaeologist Henri Breuil discovered a thick layer of calcium crystals that had formed, which protected the rock engravings from deterioration and fading for tens of thousands of years.
Due to the extensive caves and the calcium compound present, the paintings have retained their colors and clarity even after thousands of years.
The prehistoric archaeological site in the Dordogne Valley spans nearly 40 km and includes 25 caves with many valuable artifacts that serve as evidence of a significant phase in human development, particularly in prehistoric art. After numerous search and excavation efforts, scientists have discovered over 500,000 flint stones, 148 animal skeletons, 844 tools, and various artistic works from different genres dating back to the Stone Age. This collection remains the largest collection of prehistoric art in Europe and the world.
The caves in the Lascaux region are significantly higher than those in other locations in France and Spain, such as Les Trois-Frères, Niaux, Altamira, Font-de-Gaume, and Les Combarelles. Because Lascaux is much larger than these other caves, along with the calcium layer, the artifacts found here remain in good condition upon discovery.
The paintings and engravings in the caves feature sharp images and primarily depict animals such as: aurochs, horses, deer…
The rock engravings depict various animals, including bulls, aurochs, and horses, along with many other prehistoric creatures. However, they can be categorized into three main groups: human figures, animals, and abstract forms. Most of the drawings are painted on walls using mineral pigments, with a few engravings carved deeply into the rock. It is estimated that there are about 900 relatively clear images of animals, including 364 that are identified as horses, 90 identified as deer, and aurochs making up about 5% of the total drawings. The remainder includes images of rhinoceroses, bears, and some unidentified forms.
In 1948, the prehistoric archaeological site in the Dordogne Valley and the caves in the Vézère Valley opened freely to visitors and researchers. However, by 1955, due to the impact of human visitation, the paintings began to deteriorate, prompting the French government to close the area in 1963 to preserve this cultural heritage.
The French government is currently undertaking a restoration project to conserve the paintings and artifacts found at this cultural heritage site.
