UNESCO World Heritage SiteUNESCO Heritage
France

La Marche (cave)

Paleolithic cave art site, Western France

Location

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Historical Context

About

La Marche is a cave and archaeological site located in Lussac-les-Châteaux, a commune in the department of Vienne, western France. It is an archaeological site that has engendered much debate that has not been resolved to date. The carved etchings discovered there in 1937 show detailed depictions of humans and animals that may be 15,000 years old. The cave paintings at this site, however, are controversial and many doubt their authenticity.

Paleolithic
Mesolithic
Neolithic
Chalcolithic
Bronze Age
Iron Age
Classical Period
Post-Classical Period
Early Modern Period
Industrial Period
Contemporary Period
Temporal Epochs

Historical Timeline

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Excavations by Péricard

1937–1942

Discovery by Léon Péricard

November 1937

Study by Henri Breuil

1938–1939

Presentation to French Prehistoric Society

1938

Publication of discovery

1941

Re-evaluation by Michael Rappenglueck

2002

Classification

Archaeological Features

Unique architectural and cultural elements found at this historical site

category

Artistic and Decorative Features

Cave PaintingsPetroglyphs
category

Domestic and Habitation Structures

Caves
category

Environmental and Natural Features

Modified CavesRock Shelters
category

Astronomical and Timekeeping Structures

Stone Alignments
Knowledge Base

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Reference

Details

Country

France

Coordinates

46.41° N, 0.72° E