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Laugerie Basse & Grand Roc, Les Eyzies | |
| Located on the outskirts of the tiny town of Les Eyzies, these prehistoric sites are open to visitors. | ||
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An Abri is a shelter. Natural rock overhangs and cliffs near Les Eyzies were often used by ancient peoples as living space. (Unlike the comic cave- people of cartoons and movies, real prehistoric peoples didn't spend much time in caves, which were dark, damp and cold. They much preferred abris.) The Abri de Laugerie Basse was occupied over 17,000 years ago, during the Magdalenian period. The geological layers trace the history of long habitation. This shelter is known for its large number of tools and artifacts discovered in place, including a sculpture of a horse and another of a female figure. The site actually consists of two rock shelters, called the Abri de Marseilles and the Abri Classique. Nearby is the Grotte du Grand Roc, a large cave filled with stalactites, stalagmites, and other crystalline formations. The cave offers a vast variety of crystallizations of various shapes and sizes. Some of the stalactites and stalagmites have grown together, forming columns. Both are located just outside of the tiny town of Les Eyzies.
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Above, Houses built into the cliffs near the entrances to the Grand Roc and the Abri de Laugerie Basse, Les Eyzies.
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