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PréhistoSite de Brassempouy

404, rue du Musée

40330

BRASSEMPOUY

History of the Grottes Du Pape archaeological site and the lives of the men who carved the moving “Lady with a Hood” from a mammoth ivory fragment 25,000 years ago. The PréhistoSite is an archaeological theme park dedicated to the environment and the skills of prehistoric man.

It is Brassempouy that was discovered in 1894 , the famous “Lady in the hood” , an ivory statuette carved mammoth there 25,000 years & considered the oldest known representation of a human face .Today, the House of Dame invites you to explore this fabulous story & understand the daily life of prehistoric men of the Upper Paleolithic ( 35,000 / 10,000 ). Over one hectare in the archaelogical amusement park, little and big can find via demonstrations, the various skills of their forebears (napping flint, making fire by friction…), try hunting with the propulseur (javelin), painting on walls. Little and big can practicise the gestures from Prehistory with specific workshop all the year during holidays.

Présentation :

If you visit Chalosse, in the south of Landes, you will certainly have come across, or heard of, Brassempouy. In this village overlooking the Chalosse countryside, The Lady with the Hood, the most precious symbolic female figure of the Prehistoric era, was discovered in the “Grotte du Pape” in 1894. This miniature, 3.45cm high, sculpted from mammoth ivory will move you, the portrait of an expressive yet mysterious 25000 year old face, framed by a hairstyle of geometric shapes.
Accompanied by life-size reproductions of two other figurines, of the 9 found at the archaeological site, a statue inspired by this face tops the strange pyramid which houses the House of the Lady with the Hood. In this museum area, find the environment (landscape, fauna and vegetation) and the daily life of pre-historic man, the mineral materials used (flint, ochre, talc…) And how they are used. Admire the objects found here, bones carved into animals or engraved, personal artefacts… Enthusiastic guides will accompany you on this journey through time.