Grottes de la Verpillière I and II in Germolles, Commune Mellecey (Saône-et-Loire, France)
Late Middle Palaeolithic to Middle Late Palaeolithic
Overview
- Overview of the two sites
- Grotte de la Verpillière I (VP I)
- Examining the overburden of previous excavations
- Excavating intact horizons
- Grotte de la Verpillière II (VP II)
- badger holes
- Excavating intact horizons
- Methods
- Thesis on the topic
- Contakt
- Bibliography Grottes de la Verpillière I & II
Overview
The two caves are located near the small town of Germolles, about 10 km west of Chalon-sur-Saône in the Departement Saône-et-Loire in France. Following trial excavations, surveys and measuring the interiors of the long known Grotte de la Verpillière in 2003 (Floss 2005), Prof. Dr. Harald Floss has been conducting excavations since 2006 (Floss et al. 2013, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011). In 2006, 50 m south of the "old" cave, a new site was discovered, the Grotte de la Verpillière II, which is also being excavated. Geologically, the caves are in the Upper Jura (Oxfordien) massif of Montadiot and were formed through washed out lime layers.
The current activities are a combination of research, rescue and teaching excavations, associated and in cooperation with the Direction Régional des Affaires Culturelles de Bourgogne, Service Régional d‘Archéologie.
The most spectacular findings ouf our excavations in the previous years are:
- In 2006, a previously unknown cave was discovered. Artifact evidence for a Moustérien type Ferrassie, Late Middle Palaeolithic type Micoquien and fortunately, also some Early Late Palaeolithic (Châtelperronien, Aurignacien) was found in the animal holes in the cave. The newly discovered cave was named „Verpillière II“ and is being excavated. Currently, two intact layers have been discovered near the entrance of the cave dating into the Middle Palaeolithic.
- Since the excavations in the 19th century in the Grotte de la Verpillière, now known as „Grotte de la Verpillière I“ after the discoverey of the 2nd cave, produced terrific findings - which means that stratigraphy in the cave was destoryed. Fortunately, excavations revealed some intact layers in the interior of the cave and just outside of the northern entrance.
- Further, from the overburden of the 19th century excavations, diagnostic artifacts for the Middle Palaeolithic, Châtelperronien, Aurignacien and the Gravettien could be recovered.