Site Typerock shelterDescriptionA 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.
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Citation
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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/7-334/17-17645. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
Publications
AuthorWhite, Randall K.
TitleThe Ami Collection of the National Museum of Canada: Geographic and Stratigraphic Context