Bison head carved on a reindeer or horse bone Found in the Campalou shelter, Saint-Nazaire-en-Royans (Drôme) Magdalenian era (11,000 B.C.) Collection of the Musée de Valence   These are the thumbnails and texts for this alcove. They can be printed. Neanderthal man (100,000 - 50,000 B.C.) created the first graves. Strewn flowers, sprinkled ochre and ornaments accompanying the dead are undeniable signs of symbolic behaviour. The act of burial weaves a link between the living and the dead, and offers continual reassurance of a hereafter. Another symbolic activity of prehistoric man, cave art, represents animals and geometric symbols in secret and hidden places, often following the natural architecture of a cave. These decorated caves, that we presume to be sanctuaries, present an enigma to researchers. Did they have a particular social function? Were they used as religious spaces?

It is strictly forbidden to reproduce any part of this site, by any process whatsoever, without the prior written consent of the holder of the rights. To request this consent, contact the museum in question.