Photo : Thilo Parg / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Grottes préhistoriques de Soyons
The Soyons caves open on the limestone massif of Guercy, in the Ardèche, on the banks of the Rhône. From 1870, a group of cavities yielded traces of Middle Palaeolithic occupation. The Néron cave was discovered that year by Viscount Lepic and Jules de Lubac, then excavated from 1915 to 1919, in 1930 and in 1950.
Neanderthal man frequented these cavities about 100,000 years ago, as a dwelling or hunting stop, alternating with the cave bear, lion and hyena. The excavations provided a lot of animal remains, charcoal, stone tools and Neanderthal bones corresponding to at least six individuals. Today, two cavities, the Néron cave and the Trou du Renard, are open to the public, with their concretions and prehistoric history. The site is considered a major witness of the human past in the Rhône valley.
