Arago cave, Archaeological cave in Tautavel, France
Arago cave is a limestone cavern in the Corbières mountains that penetrates about 30 meters into the rock face, overlooking the Verdouble River valley below. The entrance sits roughly 80 meters above the river, making it a commanding natural feature in the landscape.
Excavations starting in 1964 revealed that humans inhabited the cave from the Acheulean through the later Middle Paleolithic period. The occupation layers span roughly 700,000 to 100,000 years ago, documenting different phases of human presence in the region.
The cave is closely linked to the discovery of Tautavel Man, one of Europe's oldest human fossils, which shapes how visitors understand early human history. Exhibits show how this finding connects the site to broader questions about our ancestors and their way of life.
Active digs take place each summer, allowing visitors to participate in archaeological work alongside researchers and trained volunteers. Plan your visit for the warmer months when excavations are underway and the site is fully open to the public.
The cave sediments preserve fossils from roughly 122 different animal species, offering rare insight into the ecological environment of our early ancestors. This diversity allows scientists to build a clear picture of the landscape and climate conditions during different prehistoric periods.
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