Ferrassie

Ferrassie is a prehistoric site which is on the commune of Savignac-with-Miremont, in the Dordogne (France). It comprises three layers of which a cave, a small shelter and the “large shelter of Ferrassie” which is most important.

History

The first Fouille S were carried out there in 1896. Research was in particular undertaken there by D. Peyrony and L. Capitan until 1922, then by H. Delporte of 1968 with 1975.

Stratigraphy

The stratigraphic sequence of the large shelter of Ferrassie, powerful of almost 10 m, comprises a succession of layers of the Paléolithique higher means and . She played an important role at the time of the definition of the chronological succession of industries of this last period.

The base of the deposit delivered industries having given their name to the one of the facies of the Paléolithique means, the “Moustérien of the Ferrassie type” (Débitage Levallois, many Racloir S and points, rare dentils, Biface S absent). The moustériennes layers also delivered the remainders of 7 Néandertaliens, including 2 adults, 3 children (2, 3 and approximately 10 years), an infant and a Fœtus having undoubtedly lived only a few hours. The cranium of the one of the adults particularly complete and is well preserved. The youthful individuals discovered by Peyrony rested apparently in pits corresponding to burials. One of the pits was covered by a flagstone. The fetus was in a monticule and was accompanied by beautiful tools of Silex, considered as a funerary deposit at the time of their discovery. The seniority of the excavations and the absence of precise recording limit however interpretations.

The sequence comprises then some levels allotted to the Châtelperronien then an important succession of levels Aurignacien S:

Aurignacien 0;
Aurignacien I (sagaies with split base, scrapers careened, strangled blades);
Aurignacien II (sagaies losangic, gravers busqués, appearance of the Art on block in particular in the form of female sexual representations).

The top of the sequence includes/understands various layers allotted by Peyrony to higher Périgordien, now called Gravettien.

External bonds

Ferrassie on hominides.com
Ferrassie, site of the General advice of the Dordogne
Ferrassie, history of research and outline of the site

References

Delporte H. and coll (1984), the large shelter of Ferrassie: excavations 1968-1973 , Laboratory of human paleontology and prehistory, Paris.
Maureille, B. (2004), the first burials , the Quoted Apple tree/of sciences and industry, (2004),
Peyrony, D. (1934), “Ferrassie: Mousterien-Perigordien-Aurignacian”, Prehistory , p. 1-143.

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