Abri du Pape at Brassempouy
Pape Shelter Brassempouy · Grotte du Pape
Upper Palaeolithic (Gravettian)·Gravettian / Noailles·🇫🇷 Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Landes, France
About
About Abri du Pape at Brassempouy
Rock shelter at Brassempouy, Landes, famous for Gravettian occupation (29,000–22,000 BP) yielding the Dame de Brassempouy ivory Venus (23,000 BP) and eight other ivory figurines, with rich Gravettian tool layers.
Why it mattersType-site for Brassempouy ivory Venus, earliest realistic human face sculpture.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Venus figurine function
- 02Noailles burin specialization
Theories
- 01Early art workshop for Gravettian figurines
- 02Seasonal aggregation site
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 29000 BP (natural shelter)
- Period
- Upper Palaeolithic (Gravettian)
- Culture
- Gravettian / Noailles
- Purpose
- Habitation and ivory carving workshop
- Rediscovered
- Modern excavation 19th–20th century
- Excavation
- Excavated
c. 29000 BP (natural shelter)
Initial construction / first occupation at Abri du Pape at Brassempouy
19th century / 1960s
Antiquarian notice and modern systematic excavation of Abri du Pape at Brassempouy
2000s
Conservation and publication of final reports for Abri du Pape at Brassempouy
On the ground
Structures & features
43.6310° N · 0.6940° W · 95 m · 3 mapped features
Venus Findspot Layer
findspotGravettian layer where Dame de Brassempouy ivory head was found 1894
43.6311° N · 0.6939° WIvory Workshop Floor
workshopConcentration of ivory debitage and Noailles burins near shelter wall
43.6309° N · 0.6939° WGrotte du Pape Interior
cave galleryInner cave 12 m beyond shelter with later deposits
43.6312° N · 0.6941° W