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Site Details

La Ferrassie

Bryan/Gruhn Archaeology Collection Read more about this collection »

Site Typerock shelter DescriptionA deeply stratified rock shelter in the Dordogne, southwest France, with Middle Palaeolithic material and burials of several Neandertals. Occupation began in the Mousterian period, to which belong two Neandertal adults and five children, buried in shallow trenches. There are several layers of 'Ferrassie', a subdivision of the Charentian Mousterian tradition, with Levallois flaking. There is a long series of Upper Palaeolithic levels, including Châtelperonian, Aurignacian, and finally a thin Gravettian level. The stratification has contributed to an understanding of the Upper Palaeolithic sequence in France. The site is unusual in that it is located on a plateau, distant from any water source, yet was well used. This site was instrumental in determining current understanding of Upper Paleolithic stratigraphy and cultures.

Site Name La Ferrassie Site Type rock shelter Description
A deeply stratified rock shelter in the Dordogne, southwest France, with Middle Palaeolithic material and burials of several Neandertals. Occupation began in the Mousterian period, to which belong two Neandertal…
A deeply stratified rock shelter in the Dordogne, southwest France, with Middle Palaeolithic material and burials of several Neandertals. Occupation began in the Mousterian period, to which belong two Neandertal adults and five children, buried in shallow trenches. There are several layers of 'Ferrassie', a subdivision of the Charentian Mousterian tradition, with Levallois flaking. There is a long series of Upper Palaeolithic levels, including Châtelperonian, Aurignacian, and finally a thin Gravettian level. The stratification has contributed to an understanding of the Upper Palaeolithic sequence in France. The site is unusual in that it is located on a plateau, distant from any water source, yet was well used. This site was instrumental in determining current understanding of Upper Paleolithic stratigraphy and cultures.

Citation

Page Citation for La Ferrassie

Page Citation

"Site Details - La Ferrassie, Bryan/Gruhn Archaeology Collection." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/7-334/17-17632. Accessed 17 Apr. 2025.

Publications

Author White, Randall K.
Title The Ami Collection of the National Museum of Canada: Geographic and Stratigraphic Context
Publication Date 1980-02
Author Kipfer, Barbara Ann
Title Archaeology Wordsmith

Site Information

There are 117 specimens from this Item Group

996.1.766 - single convex side scraper

Bryan/Gruhn Archaeology Collection

Object Typescraper Place CollectedEurope: France, Dordogne, Le Bugue Date Collected1912; 1926

996.1.767 - naturally backed knife

Bryan/Gruhn Archaeology Collection

Object Typeretouched flake Place CollectedEurope: France, Dordogne, Le Bugue Date Collected1912; 1926

996.1.768 - single convex side scraper

Bryan/Gruhn Archaeology Collection

Object Typescraper Place CollectedEurope: France, Dordogne, Le Bugue Date Collected1912; 1926

996.1.769 - single convex side scraper

Bryan/Gruhn Archaeology Collection

Object Typescraper Place CollectedEurope: France, Dordogne, Le Bugue Date Collected1912; 1926

996.1.770 - single convex side scraper

Bryan/Gruhn Archaeology Collection

Object Typescraper Place CollectedEurope: France, Dordogne, Le Bugue Date Collected1912; 1926

996.1.771 - offset side scraper

Bryan/Gruhn Archaeology Collection

Object Typescraper Place CollectedEurope: France, Dordogne, Le Bugue Date Collected1912; 1926

996.1.772 - offset side scraper

Bryan/Gruhn Archaeology Collection

Object Typescraper Place CollectedEurope: France, Dordogne, Le Bugue Date Collected1912; 1926

996.1.773 - Levallois projectile point

Bryan/Gruhn Archaeology Collection

Object Typeprojectile point Place CollectedEurope: France, Dordogne, Le Bugue Date Collected1912; 1926

996.1.852 - naturally backed knife

Bryan/Gruhn Archaeology Collection

Object Typeflake Place CollectedEurope: France, Dordogne, Le Bugue Date Collected1926

996.1.853 - bidirectionally flaked core

Bryan/Gruhn Archaeology Collection

Object Typecore Place CollectedEurope: France, Dordogne, Le Bugue Date Collected1926

996.1.854 - bidirectionally flaked core

Bryan/Gruhn Archaeology Collection

Object Typecore Place CollectedEurope: France, Dordogne, Le Bugue Date Collected1926

996.1.855 - straight dihedral burin

Bryan/Gruhn Archaeology Collection

Object Typeburin Place CollectedEurope: France, Dordogne, Le Bugue Date Collected1926

996.1.856 - end scraper on an Aurignacian blade

Bryan/Gruhn Archaeology Collection

Object Typescraper Place CollectedEurope: France, Dordogne, Le Bugue Date Collected1926

996.1.857 - transverse burin on lateral retouch

Bryan/Gruhn Archaeology Collection

Object Typeburin Place CollectedEurope: France, Dordogne, Le Bugue

996.1.858 - side scraper

Bryan/Gruhn Archaeology Collection

Object Typescraper Place CollectedEurope: France, Dordogne, Le Bugue

996.1.859 - raclette

Bryan/Gruhn Archaeology Collection

Object Typescraper Place CollectedEurope: France, Dordogne, Le Bugue

996.1.860 - atypical carinated end scraper

Bryan/Gruhn Archaeology Collection

Object Typescraper Place CollectedEurope: France, Dordogne, Le Bugue Date Collected1926

996.1.861 - naturally backed knife

Bryan/Gruhn Archaeology Collection

Object Typeretouched flake Place CollectedEurope: France, Dordogne, Le Bugue Date Collected1926

996.1.862 - utilized blade

Bryan/Gruhn Archaeology Collection

Object Typeutilized blade Place CollectedEurope: France, Dordogne, Le Bugue Date Collected1910; 1923

996.1.863 - utilized blade

Bryan/Gruhn Archaeology Collection

Object Typeutilized blade Place CollectedEurope: France, Dordogne, Le Bugue Date Collected1910; 1923

996.1.864 - utilized blade

Bryan/Gruhn Archaeology Collection

Object Typeutilized blade Place CollectedEurope: France, Dordogne, Le Bugue Date Collected1910; 1923