The Prehistoric site of Combe-Capelle

The Prehistoric site of Combe-Capelle is a three tiered complex situated on a hillside in the Couze valley near the village of Montferrand-du-Périgord. At the top of the hill, at the foot of a small cliff, the caves of ROC DE COMBE-CAPELLE and COMBE-CAPELLE HAUT were the first to be excavated. On the slope, COMBE-CAPELLE BAS was excavated more recently. The ROC DE COMBE-CAPELLE discovered in 1887 was excavated by Mr VILLEREAL and then by O.HAUSER, who discovered in 1909 a skeleton belonging to the CHATELPERRONIEN. It was buried intentionally with a cloth and a twin-edged tool next to its left hand. It was a small man measuring 1.60m. HAUSER published his discovery, sold the skeleton to the Berlin museum and gave a mould of it to the Périgueux museum. The circumstances of the discovery, the exact position and the skull characteristics (see photo) have been questioned by several prehistorians since the first criticisms by the prehistorian, DENIS PEYRONY. The site, having been completely excavated, has lost its stratigraphy. The skeleton was destroyed in the Berlin fire of 1945 and so no analysis by modern methods is possible. Apart from the mould and old publications, nothing remains of this famous and controversial COMBE-CAPELLE man.

Crâne et squelette retrouvé sur le roc de Combe-Capelle

COMBE-CAPELLE HAUT : This was excavated by DENIS PEYRONY in 1925.

COMBE-CAPELLE BAS : Several excavations were carried out by the priest LANDESQUE . In 1926 HENRI-MARC AMI excavated from the departmental road to half way up the hill. After his death, the results were published. The site was again excavated in the 1980s by H.L.DIBBLE and MICHEL LENOIR in order to clarify the sequence of activity on the site and to check on the effect of the mineral deposits and flint. (see objects relating to COMBE-CAPELLE BAS)

Biface à gauche et grand Racloir à droite.