To enter the history of the cave of Pair-non-Pair, it is first necessary to present the man who discovered it, this March 6, 1881. Because François Daleau is a character with many facets: at the same time archaeologist , ethnologist, anthropologist and prehistorian from Bourg-en-Gironde. What a resume!
Say, tell me the story of the cave of Pair-non-Pair
François Daleau carried out excavations until 1913 and completely emptied the cave. Suffice to say that it is a remarkable work for the time, with stunning precision, at a time when prehistoric science is only in its infancy. He records all his observations in his “excursion notebooks”. A common point between him and us: we are more of a “book of secrets” but go for the excursion!
His harvest? A considerable harvest, made up of thousands of flint, bone and ivory tools and faunal remains. All this will allow him to identify several prehistoric cultures, but before explaining to you, we would like to point out that the following words do exist: the Mousterian (about 80 years our era), the Châtelperronian (000 years before our era), the Aurignacian (35 years before our era) and the Gravettian (000 years before our era).
But François does not only discover tools and words unknown to the battalion of our most in-depth history lessons: he brings to light a set of engravings visible on the walls of the cave, divided into seven distinct panels. These engravings feature horses, ibexes, deer, mammoths and bison, are in very good condition, of high quality and they are over 30 years old, just realize!
These works of art, which belong to the Aurignacian culture, are today among the oldest known engravings in the world. And yes, it blows your mind. Moreover, it does not amaze you, because it is at this time that the cave will then acquire worldwide notoriety.
It is at the beginning of the XNUMXth century, the third decorated cave discovered after Altamira (Spain) and Chabot (Ardèche).
To welcome the public, an original construction due to the Bordeaux architect Patrick Hernandez combines noble materials, oak posts alternating with raw concrete walls. In this case, window partitions present the lithic and bone industry, the bone remains of the main animals from the excavations of the cave. There are also other prehistoric remains from the Grotte des Fées and the Roc de Marcamps site, sites close to Pair-non-Pair. Photographs of the cave during excavations swarm this mind-blowing journey. Wait, stop for 2 minutes here: a screen allows you to watch a film like "The gestures of prehistory", to learn all about the manufacture and use of tools and other objects during this decisive period for Humanity.
The prehistoric cave of Pair-Non-Pair
Prignac-et-Marcamps
Listed as a Historic Monument in 1900 and a National Monument
To see and do near the Pair-non-Pair cave
The Grand Puy de Lansac mill
A few kilometers north of Pair-non-Pair, in the heart of the Côtes de Bourg vineyard, there is a mill, a vestige of a bygone past. The original construction date of the mill remains unknown but we know that it operated until 1865, when the last miller left. Thanks to expert work, its wings have been restored. The roof has also benefited from a facelift: it even has a frame oriented
depending on the wind. The millstones now produce lovely wheat, rye, buckwheat and lentil flours that you can buy on site!
