Caves of Arcy-sur-Cure

Caves of Arcy-sur-Cure
(in French)
fr:Grottes d'Arcy-sur-Cure
Mammoth in Arcy-sur-Cure
Caves of Arcy-sur-Cure
Caves of Arcy-sur-Cure
LocationArcy-sur-Cure, Yonne, Burgundy, France
Coordinates47°35′30″N 3°45′59″E / 47.591547°N 3.76628°E / 47.591547; 3.76628
Discoveryancient
GeologyJurassic limestone[1]
FeaturesDecorated caves. Listed Heritage Monument (1992)[2]
Websitehttp://www.grottes-arcy.net/
Lake in the Fairies cave - old postcard
"Salle de la Boucherie" -
old postcard
View from the entrance of the Fairies cave - old postcard

The caves of Arcy-sur-Cure are a series of caves located on the commune of Arcy-sur-Cure, Burgundy, France. Some of them contained archaeological artefacts, from the Mousterian to Gallo-Roman times.

Some hold remarkable parietal art, the second oldest presently known after those of the Chauvet cave. Another notable characteristic of these caves is the time-long series of pollen, related to determined and consistent archaeological levels.[3]

Between 1947 and 1963, they were searched by the French prehistorians Arlette and André Leroi-Gourhan.[3] Listed monument historique (Heritage Monument) in 1992,[2] they are partially open to the public.

  1. ^ Leroy-Gourhan 1964, p. 2.
  2. ^ a b Base Mérimée: Grottes d'Arcy-sur-Cure, Ministère français de la Culture. (in French)
  3. ^ a b Leroy-Gourhan 1964, p. 1.