Urgeschichte und Naturwissenschaftliche Archäologie

Grottes de la Verpillière I and II in Germolles, Commune Mellecey (Saône-et-Loire, France)

Late Middle Palaeolithic to Middle Late Palaeolithic

Overview

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: