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Located near Les Eyzies-de-Tayac-Sireuil, in the Dordogne department. Font-de-Gaume cave contains paintings in several colours

While exploring the area, in 1901 Denis Peyrony discovered the paintings (who, why, by accident)

Prehistoric people lived in the Dordogne valley, tens of thousands of years ago
The cave was inhabited for several thousand years. But something must have happened. Because there after, the cave is believed to be long forgotten.

Many of the drawings date from around 19,000 years ago. The most famous is of 5 bison, and was discovered by accident in the 1960s when scientists were cleaning the cave
More than 230 figures are believed to have been recorded in the cave. Included is 80 bison, 40 horses and 20 mammoths. Some say there are even more yet to be discovered.

Did you know? 200 of the paintings are in multi colour. Making Font-de-Gaume one of the best examples of polychrome (multi colour) paintings, other than Lascaux.

Check it out with some more neolithic architecture today!

Bibliography: Bahn, Paul (2007). Cave Art: a Guide to Decorated Ice Age Caves of Europe. Frances Lincoln Ltd. ISBN978-0-7112-2655-5.

Osborn, Henry Fairfield (1914). Men of the Old Stone Age: Their Environment, Life and Art. Charles Scribner’s Sons.

Daubisse, Paulette; Vidal, Pierre; Vouvé, Jean; Brunet, Jacques (1994). The Font-de-Gaume Cave. Périgueux: Pierre Fanlac. ISBN978-2-86577-149-3