Gisement préhistorique du Pont d'Ambon
MonumentHidden Treasure
Gisement préhistorique du Pont d'Ambon, located in Bourdeilles (Dordogne), is a historic monument. The monument is currently closed to visitors.
Key facts
- Type
- autre
- Location
- Bourdeilles, Dordogne, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 45.3005, 0.5386
- Mérimée Reference
- PA24000056
On the banks of the Dronne, the abri du Pont d'Ambon reveals 12,000 years of human history: Azilian geometric art, fishing implements and one of the oldest known domestic dogs in France.
History
Nestling in the verdant Dronne valley at Bourdeilles in the Dordogne, the Pont d'Ambon prehistoric site is one of the most significant Azilian sites in France. This rock shelter, almost 150 metres long, opens discreetly onto a Périgord landscape that its occupants were already familiar with at the end of the Upper Palaeolithic, around 12,000 years ago. Its protection as a Historic Monument, obtained in 2007, confirms the long-deserved recognition of this discreet but important site. What sets the Pont d'Ambon apart from the countless other prehistoric sites in Périgord is the uniqueness of the discoveries made there. The movable art unearthed during the excavations features geometric and schematic motifs characteristic of the Azilian culture, marking a turning point in human artistic expression: after the large, realistic animals of Lascaux and Combarelles, the Azilian people abandoned figuration to venture into abstraction, a sign of a profound transformation in societies and beliefs. The presence of fishing nets on the site testifies to the remarkable adaptation of the inhabitants to their river environment. The nearby Dronne was an essential food resource, and the people of the Pont d'Ambon had developed ingenious techniques to make the most of it. These remains bear witness to a level of technical mastery and social organisation that was far more sophisticated than had been imagined at the time. But the most moving discovery is undoubtedly that of the bones of a domestic dog, one of the oldest testimonies of this unique relationship between Man and the Canis lupus familiaris on French soil. This hunting or camping companion, buried or simply present in the living space, is an unexpected bridge between distant prehistory and our most familiar everyday life. To visit the Pont d'Ambon area is to stroll through an intimate Dordogne, far from the crowds of Lascaux II or Les Eyzies, to feel the silent depths of a past that the rock has patiently preserved. A site for the curious, archaeology enthusiasts and lovers of authentic Périgord.
Architecture
The Pont d'Ambon belongs to the category of rock shelters, a natural geological formation typical of the Périgord, shaped by the differential erosion of the Jurassic and Cretaceous limestones that make up the region's substratum. Around 150 metres long, this shelter offered Azilian populations effective protection against the elements and predators, without requiring any construction as such: the rock itself formed the roof and walls of the habitat. The morphology of the shelter, oriented so as to benefit from favourable exposure, corresponds to the classic layout of prehistoric occupation sites in the Dordogne. The rocky bench and limestone overhang define an interior space that has enabled the exceptional preservation of organic and lithic remains. The immediate proximity of the Dronne, a river with flowing waters and plenty of fish, goes a long way towards explaining why Azilian human groups chose this location. The materials found during the excavations - river pebbles used as supports for movable art, carved flint, worked bones - reflect an intelligent exploitation of local resources. The absence of built architectural structures is offset by the wealth of internal features that can be reconstructed: hearths, pruning areas, storage spaces, all bearing witness to a functional organisation of living space that was particularly advanced for its time.
Related Figures
Georges Laplace — préhistorien ayant contribué à l'étude des niveaux aziliens du PérigordAndré Cheynier — archéologue périgourdin ayant participé aux premières descriptions de sites aziliens régionauxLes groupes humains aziliens — populations épipaléolithiques occupant le site entre 12 000 et 9 000 av. J.-C.Denis Peyrony — préhistorien fondateur de l'étude systématique des sites de Dordogne, dont le travail ouvrit la voie à la connaissance de l'Azilien périgourdin
Tags
Nearby castles
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Gisement préhistorique du Pont d'Ambon located?
Gisement préhistorique du Pont d'Ambon is located in Bourdeilles, Dordogne department, Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, France.
Is Gisement préhistorique du Pont d'Ambon open to visitors?
Gisement préhistorique du Pont d'Ambon is currently closed to visitors.
