The former province of Périgord, now known as the Dordogne after the river which runs through it, is also known as the cradle of humanity because of the many prehistoric sites attesting to man's occupation from early days. The "capital" of prehistoric remains is Les Eyzies de Tayac, at the confluent of the Vézère and the Beune, where the National Museum of Prehistoric Remains is to be found^(*). The surrounding region, especially the lower valley of the Vézère, has many other such interesting sites.

The limestone of the region proved ideal for the formation of caves, which provided ready-made easily accessible dwellings for prehistoric man. These were usually found at the base of the cliffs and contained evidence of everyday life, like tools, animal and human remains. An example of this type of site is to be found at Laugerie Haute and Laugerie Basse or the Abri de Cro-Magnon near Les Eyzies.

Further in from the cliff-face are caves where drawings and sculptures are found. These are thought to be temples, since the animals are often either female symbols of fertility or captured prey to bring luck in the hunt. One of the best examples is the Lascaux caves, discovered by chance in 1940 by four young people searching for their dog. The remarkable state of the paintings was due to the type of rock which prevented infiltrations and to the constant temperature.
 

The paintings are in a variety of colours of mineral origin often mixed with animal fat. Some have been sprayed onto the walls by blowing down plant stems. The various defects of the rock surface have been incorporated into the pictures to give relief to the subjects, which include cows, bulls, horses, deer and bison.

Once the site was opened to the public, the paintings deteriorated, which necessitated the closing of the site in 1963. It has been reproduced at Lascaux II near Montignac, opened in 1983 next to the original site. Other paintings may be found in the Grotte aux Cent Mammouths at Rouffignac and throughout the area.

In addition to these two types of cave there exists a third category: those containing impressive rock formations like stalactites and stalagmites, as seen in the Grotte du Grand Roc near les Eyzies. These are formed when the minerals from water filtering through the rock gradually build up over the ages. Other examples are to be found near Le Bugue in the Grotte de Proumeyssac or in the Grotte de la Halle at Domme.

^(*)The brochure "La Fête en Perigord", available from the Tourist Office 25, rue Wilson, 24009 Périgueux, contains an illustrated list of different prehistoric sites, as well as castles, abbeys and museums, with opening times throughout the year. Although in French, this list is very easy to follow and useful for planning visits.