Abri de Raymonden I
MonumentHidden Treasure
Abri de Raymonden I, located in Chancelade (Dordogne), is a historic monument. The monument is currently closed to visitors.
Key facts
- Type
- autre
- Location
- Chancelade, Dordogne, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 45.2108, 0.6733
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00082471
A Palaeolithic rock shelter listed as a Historic Monument, Raymonden I in Chancelade is one of the most precious testimonies to Magdalenian art and funerary practices in Périgord.
History
Nestling in the limestone cliffs that border the Beauronne valley, a few kilometres from Périgueux, the Raymonden I shelter is one of the most significant Upper Palaeolithic archaeological sites in the Dordogne. In a department already blessed by the prehistoric gods, this natural hollow in the rock has yielded exceptionally rich remains, silent witnesses to a Magdalenian humanity that flourished some 12,000 to 15,000 years ago. What sets Raymonden I apart from the multitude of other shelters in the Périgord region is the quality and diversity of the artefacts discovered there: finely engraved bone and reindeer antler objects, remarkably well-crafted lithic tools, and above all a human burial site that has revolutionised our understanding of Magdalenian ritual practices. The Chancelade man, unearthed in 1888, has become one of the emblematic figures of French palaeoanthropology, whose bone remains continue to fuel scientific debate to this day. To visit Raymonden I is to venture into a landscape of limestone plateaux and rivers that has hardly changed since prehistoric times. The river Beauronne meanders below, oak groves line the hillsides, and the cliff face shelters a space where scenes of daily life and funeral ceremonies were played out thousands of years ago. The atmosphere is breathtaking for those who let their imagination run riot. The site, listed as a Historic Monument since 1926, is part of the extraordinary constellation of prehistoric sites in Périgord, just a stone's throw from Lascaux, Font-de-Gaume and Les Combarelles. For those with a passion for prehistory, the Musée d'Art et d'Archéologie du Périgord in Périgueux houses some of the collections from Raymonden's excavations, giving visitors a chance to fully appreciate the richness of this buried heritage.
Architecture
The Raymonden I rock shelter is a natural hollow formed in the Upper Cretaceous limestone cliffs that line the right bank of the Beauronne, a tributary of the Isle. This type of rock shelter, ubiquitous in Périgord, is the result of differential erosion of the limestone strata: soft banks gradually dissolve under the action of run-off water, creating a horizontal cavity covered by a harder rock overhang. The orientation and depth of the rocky overhang provided the Magdalenian occupants with effective natural protection against the prevailing winds and rainfall, while still enjoying sufficient sunlight. The rock face, a smooth or slightly mameluose surface depending on the crevices in the cliff, forms the "back wall" of this primitive troglodytic dwelling. The floor of the shelter, now partially excavated, has revealed a succession of archaeological levels separated by sterile lenses, each layer corresponding to a distinct phase of occupation. The domestic hearths, marked by rubbed stones and charcoal ashes, indicate the main sites of human activity. The living area of the shelter, estimated at a few dozen square metres, is typical of this type of Magdalenian site. Unlike the large decorated caves in the region, Raymonden I has no known cave paintings or engravings. Its wealth is entirely contained in the sedimentary layers and the archaeological material unearthed: tangible evidence of a civilisation of hunters whose technical mastery and artistic expression on portable materials - bone, reindeer antler, ivory - reached heights of refinement for the period.
Related Figures
L'homme de Chancelade — individu du Magdalénien supérieur dont la sépulture découverte en 1888 a marqué l'histoire de la paléoanthropologie françaiseHardy — érudit local co-découvreur de la sépulture de Chancelade lors des fouilles de 1888Dupuy — co-fouilleur du site aux côtés de Hardy, parmi les premiers explorateurs scientifiques de Raymonden ILéo Testut — anatomiste lyonnais qui décrit et publie en 1889 l'analyse détaillée du squelette de Chancelade, forgeant le concept d'une « race de Chancelade »Édouard Lartet — paléontologue pionnier des fouilles préhistoriques en Périgord dont les travaux dans la région ont ouvert la voie aux découvertes de ChanceladeLouis Capitan — préhistorien français qui contribua à l'étude comparative des gisements magdaléniens du Périgord, dont Raymonden
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Abri de Raymonden I located?
Abri de Raymonden I is located in Chancelade, Dordogne department, Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, France.
Is Abri de Raymonden I open to visitors?
Abri de Raymonden I is currently closed to visitors.