Font-de-Gaume

Font-de-Gaume is a cave near Les Eyzies in the Dordogne department of south-west France [1]. The cave contains prehistoric polychrome cave paintings and engravings dating to the Magdalenian period [1]. The paintings were discovered by Denis Peyrony, a local schoolmaster, on 12 September 1901 [1]. The paintings in the cave at Font-de-Gaume were the first to be discovered in the Périgord province [1]. Prehistoric people living in the Dordogne Valley first settled in the mouth of Font-de-Gaume around 25,000 BC [1]. The cave mouth was inhabited at least sporadically for the next several thousand years [1]. To date, 230 figures have been recorded in the cave, and it is thought that more are still to be revealed [1]. The rock art in Font-de-Gaume includes depictions of more than 80 bison, approximately 40 horses, and more than 20 mammoths [1].