Cave of the goat

The cave of the goat is a prehistoric site pertaining to the group of the Grottes of Saulges. It is located on the commune of Saint-Pierre-on-Erve in the Mayenne. It delivered in particular vestiges of the Paléolithique superior but also of the Paléolithique means and faunal vestiges of the average Pléistocène.

The cave is characterized by a double porch of entry, on Right Bank of the Erve, to approximately 25 m above the current course of the river. Its depth is only of one about fifteen meters, but its orientation with the south and the broad terrace which develops in front of the entries generate conditions completely favourable with the prehistoric occupations.

In front of the cave of the Goat, a vast scree cone seals the foot of cliff. These are the deposits which conceal the levels allotted to the higher Pléistocène, excavated partially by the abbot Maillard and Raoul Daniel, providing the first elements of a stratigraphic nature on this site. This one remains more interesting, because the stratigraphic data, confirmed to some extent by the archaeological surveys carried out in 1999-2000 by Stéphan Hinguant, show that the near total of the sequence of the Paléolithique superior is represented.

The cultures Magdalénien, Solutréen and Aurignacien but also of the occupations ascribable to the Paléolithique means are thus recognized starting from characteristic movable elements. Older still, of the fossils of a fauna of average Pleistocene, i.e. beyond 150.000 years, were recently discovered on the site. It is about a fragment of canine of Homotherium cf latidens , the famous Tigre with teeth of saber, and of a molar of Dama clactoniana (Daim of Clacton). The presence of these fossils in altered excavations of the XIXe century of the cave of the Goat thus states that there exists perhaps still a level of average Pleistocene at the base of the layer, not identified to date.

In the same way, we are unaware of if they testify to the existence of a simple den of Carnivore where well if they come from an occupation of the cave by the Anteones ( Homo heidelbergensis ). In addition to the study of the sequences of higher Pleistocene, the research of a level ascribable to average Pleistocene will be thus a discussion thread not to neglect during the resumption of the excavations on this site.

See too

Internal bond

Caves of Saulges

Biliography

Anonymous, sda. “A burial of the Troglodytes of Thorigné-in-Charnie”, unknown source, collected by Fizelier, sdb, layers 33 back and 36 recto.
Anonymous, sdb. “The prehistoric site of Thorigné-in-Charnie and the catholic University of Lille”, unknown source, collected by Fizelier, sdb, layers 36 recto-back.
Hake, S., 2000, rock crystal industry of the cave of the Goat (Saint-Pierre-on-Erve, Mayenne) , Master's paper of archeology, University of Paris-1, 65 p., 16 pl.
Hinguant, S. 2000. “Second archaeological evaluation campaign to the cave of the Goat (Saint-Pierre-on-Erve, Mayenne)”, prehistoric and protohistoric Day of Brittany , November 18th, 2000, Rennes, p. 6-9.
Hinguant, S., Molines 2000 (with collaboration of Yves Mignot and Florence Sharecropper and under the scientific department of Jean-Laurent Monnier). “Intermediate Report/ratio on the excavation of the Cave of the Goat (Saint-Pierre-on-Erve). Marketing year 2000”, Paleolithic occupations of the valley of Erve , Rennes, 19 p.
Hinguant, S., Molines, NR., Monnier, J. - L. 1999. “Preliminary Survey in front of the cave with the Goat (Saint-Pierre-on-Erve, Mayenne)”, prehistoric and protohistoric Day of Brittany , November 6th, 1999, Rennes, p. 4-5.
Hinguant, S., Mould P. - E, Arellano, A., 2005. “First indices of the presence of a fauna of average Pleistocene in the valley of Erve (Mayenne, France)”, Bulletin of the Museum of Prehistoric anthropology of Monaco , 45, p. 25-30.
Hinguant, S., Pigeaud, R. 2006. “" caves of Saulges" : new research, discovered news”, the Province of Maine , n° 79, 3rd quarter, p. 211-229.
Maillard, Abbot 1875. “The age of the stone with Thorigné-in-Charnie (Mayenne)”, Universe or the Independent one of the West , June 13rd, 1875, in Fizelier, sdb, layer 33 back.
Maillard, Abbot 1876a. “On a prehistoric site of Thorigné-in-Charnie (Mayenne)”, Bulletins of the Company of anthropology of Paris , Meeting of February 17th, 1876, p. 5-16.
Maillard, Abbot 1876b. “Answer to G. of Mortillet. Solutréen is not directly superimposed on Moustérien with Thorigné-in-Charnie”, Matériaux for the primitive and natural History of the Man , p. 284-289.
Maillard, Abbot 1878. “The prehistoric site of Thorigné-in-Charnie in connection with the most important discoveries, the appreciations of the scientists and the classification of the ages of the stone. Second answer to Mr. G. of Mortillet”, scientific Current events published by Mr. the Moigno Abbot, second series, p. 2-48.
Maillard, Abbot 1879. “Troglodytes of the valley of Erve or prehistoric site of Thorigné-in-Charnie (Mayenne)” Reports of the Frank Plowshare. of Archeology , May 1878, XLVe session, p. 69-88.

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