Grotte de Coupe-Gorge, Prehistoric cave in Montmaurin, France.
Grotte de Coupe-Gorge is a cave located within the Seygouade gorges that contains archaeological deposits with stone tools and bone remains from different time periods. The site continues to be studied as researchers work to extract and analyze the materials preserved in the rock layers.
The cave was discovered in 1945 during quarrying operations and contains deposits from the Middle Paleolithic period, roughly 200,000 years ago. Archaeological finds indicate that people used this location repeatedly over an extremely long span of time.
The cave reveals how early humans lived and worked through the stone tools and debris they left behind over thousands of years. Walking through the space, you can sense the long history of people making and using tools here.
The cave can be reached on foot via walking paths through the gorge, though access varies depending on current research activities at the site. It is wise to check in advance about visiting conditions since excavations may limit when the area is open to the public.
A human arm bone discovered in the cave bears bite marks from hyenas, providing rare evidence of how early humans and these predators shared and competed for the same living spaces. This physical trace offers one of the few direct signs of their coexistence in prehistoric times.
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