Trou de l’Abîme, Cave and archaeological site in Couvin, Belgium
Trou de l'Abîme is a cave with archaeological layers in Couvin filled with traces of early humans. The cave extends across two levels, with a large natural chamber situated about 12 meters below the upper floor, which formerly housed a museum space.
Excavations between 1984 and 1985 uncovered stone tools and bones from the Old Stone Age buried for thousands of years in sediment. These discoveries reveal that people visited this cave repeatedly over extended periods.
The site served as a dwelling place for people across millennia, and the finds show how Stone Age humans lived and worked here. The remains tell stories of daily activities, hunting, and survival in this region long before our era.
The site sits on the right bank of the Eau Noire river in central Couvin and is easy to reach. Visitors should know that access is currently not possible, as the cave has remained closed since 2017.
Among the most valuable finds from the cave is a milk tooth of a Neanderthal child that dates back roughly 40,000 to 42,000 years. This rare discovery offers a personal glimpse into the deep human history of this region.
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