Gisement de Tabaterie (abri Brouillaud et abri Sondougne)
MonumentHidden Treasure
Gisement de Tabaterie (abri Brouillaud et abri Sondougne), located in La Gonterie-Boulouneix (Dordogne), is a historic monument. The monument is currently closed to visitors.
Key facts
- Type
- autre
- Location
- La Gonterie-Boulouneix, Dordogne, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 45.3664, 0.5599
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00082566
Buried in the wooded cliffs of the Périgord, the Brouillaud and Sondougne shelters reveal the silent traces of two humanities: Neanderthals and Homo sapiens have successively carved their passage here for over 70,000 years.
History
Nestling in the verdant valley bordering the commune of La Gonterie-Boulouneix, in the heart of the Dordogne, the Tabaterie site is one of the most eloquent testimonies to the long human occupation of the Périgord. Comprising two separate rock shelters - the Brouillaud shelter and the Sondougne shelter - this archaeological site, listed as a Historic Monument since 1909, plunges the discerning visitor into a vertigo of time that few other sites can offer. What makes the Tabaterie site truly unique is the exceptional stratigraphic superposition of its archaeological layers, bearing witness to a continuous human presence spanning both the Middle Palaeolithic, associated with Neanderthal populations, and the Upper Palaeolithic, corresponding to the arrival and flourishing of Homo sapiens in Western Europe. Each level of sediment is a page from this immense mineral library, revealing carved tools, faunal bones and the remains of hearths that reconstruct, fragment by fragment, the daily life of our distant ancestors. The Brouillaud shelter, the larger of the two, features a generous rock vault formed from the Cretaceous limestone typical of the Périgord Noir et Vert region, providing a sheltered space large enough to accommodate groups of hunter-gatherers on their seasonal journeys. The Sondougne shelter, more modest in size, contains sedimentary deposits of comparable richness, suggesting a complementary use, perhaps more focused on processing game or storing resources. A visit to the site, set in an unspoilt natural environment, is both a contemplative and intellectual experience. The limestone cliffs, carpeted with moss and ferns, form a wild setting that has hardly changed since the first humans sought refuge here. Prehistory enthusiasts will appreciate the proximity of the Vézère river and its famous deposits, which make Tabaterie part of a prehistoric network of a density that is unique in the world. Classified as a Historic Monument in the early years of the 20th century, this site is part of the invisible but fundamental heritage that establishes the Dordogne as the undisputed cradle of European prehistory. Far from the crowds that flock to Lascaux or Les Eyzies, Tabaterie offers an intimate, almost meditative encounter with the earliest days of mankind.
Architecture
The Brouillaud and Sondougne shelters belong to the category of rock shelters, characteristic geological formations in the Cenomanian and Coniacian limestone of the Périgord. These natural overhangs are the result of differential erosion of the limestone beds by meteoric waters and streams, which preferentially carve out the softer layers to form horizontal recesses in the cliffs. The morphology of these shelters - low, flat roofs, vertical walls, slightly outward-sloping floors - is typical of the shelters used by Palaeolithic populations throughout the Périgord region. The Brouillaud shelter is oriented so as to maximise sunlight and protect it from the prevailing northerly winds, a recurring feature of Palaeolithic settlement sites in the Périgord. The surrounding rock, a characteristic golden beige, forms a natural vault whose stability has allowed several metres of archaeological sediment to accumulate, each layer corresponding to a distinct occupation episode. The Sondougne shelter, which is geologically similar, has a slightly smaller surface area but a comparable stratigraphy in terms of richness. The floors of both shelters contain archaeological deposits made up of a mixture of silt, ash, charcoal, bone fragments and lithic chippings. These sediments, analysed using modern geoarchaeological methods, make it possible to reconstruct not only the chronology of occupations, but also the climatic and environmental conditions that prevailed during each settlement phase.
Related Figures
Hommes de Néandertal — occupants du site durant le Paléolithique moyen, auteurs des industries moustériennes identifiées dans les couches inférieuresHomo sapiens — chasseurs-cueilleurs du Paléolithique supérieur ayant successivement occupé les abris entre 40 000 et 10 000 ans avant notre èreÉdouard Lartet — paléontologue et préhistorien pionnier qui, dans la seconde moitié du XIXe siècle, établit les bases de la chronologie du Paléolithique périgourdinGabriel de Mortillet — préhistorien français qui systématisa la classification des industries lithiques du Paléolithique, fournissant le cadre d'interprétation des gisements comme TabaterieDenis Peyrony — préhistorien périgordin majeur du début du XXe siècle, acteur clé de la protection et de l'étude des gisements de la région à l'époque du classement de 1909
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Gisement de Tabaterie (abri Brouillaud et abri Sondougne) located?
Gisement de Tabaterie (abri Brouillaud et abri Sondougne) is located in La Gonterie-Boulouneix, Dordogne department, Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, France.
Is Gisement de Tabaterie (abri Brouillaud et abri Sondougne) open to visitors?
Gisement de Tabaterie (abri Brouillaud et abri Sondougne) is currently closed to visitors.