Abri Pataud, a major Cro Magnon rock shelter
The Abri Pataud is located a stone’s throw from the Cro Magnon shelter in Les Eyzies-de-Tayac-Sireuil and constitutes another major site of the Cro-Magnon culture.
In 1880, Marcel Pataud discovered some flints while working his land. The excavations that followed would unearth a treasure trove of artefacts, tools and even a remarkable bas-relief depicting an ibex.
However, what truly make the Abri Pataud stand out is its exceptional stratigraphy, revealing a vertical sedimentary sequence rising to a height of 9 metres. This stratigraphy clearly illustrates the 40 distinct periods of human occupation, spanning from 33,000 to 17,000 years before present!
Among the different layers are a multitude of tools and weapons fashioned from flint, bone and antler, food remains, traces of hearths and even burials.
These discoveries have provided archaeologists with invaluable information about the evolution of our distant ancestors’ lifestyles and hunting practices over 15,000 years.
Sadly, time has also taken its toll, and much of the shelter has collapsed over the centuries.
The Ibex of the Abri Pataud
Fortunately, a remarkable part of the Pataud shelter is still standing and houses a superb 17,000-year-old bas-relief depicting an ibex.
This section of the shelter has been transformed into a small in situ museum, showcasing not only the sculpture but also a selection of objects unearthed during the excavations.
You can also discover the field techniques used by archaeologists and explore the discoveries made during ongoing excavations.
An old agricultural building has also been converted into a research centre for scientists, facilitating in-depth study and analysis of the site’s rich archaeological heritage.
Despite its modest size, the Abri Pataud is of considerable importance in modern archaeology.
Department of Dordogne – Les Eyzies de Tayac Sireuil
Coordinates: Lat 44.937951 – Long 1.011925
Photo Wikimedia Commons: Ibex bas-relief by Sémhur CC BY-SA 4.0
