The site of the discovery of the bones is marked with a plaque and a statue of a Cro-Magnon man
In 1868, French road workers dynamited a cliff and discovered human bones. Five skeletons were recovered along with prehistoric artifacts. They were named after the place they were found, Cro-Magnon. We now know they were not the first humans in Europe, they date to about 27,000 years ago, but they were the first of their kind to be identified. Now the name Cro-Magnon has been supplanted by "European Early Modern Human," a name that certainly has less flair.
The entrance to the Abri Cro-Magnon. The parking area is on the left.
Located about 500 m from the National Prehistory Museum in the village of Les Eyzies, this new museum (opened in 2014) serves as an introduction to the Cro-Magnon people and their environment and allows you to visit the actual site of their discovery.
Even though the website is only in French, the museum is fully translated into English. Dogs on a leash are welcome here. Closed in January.
Hours and prices (scroll to the bottom of the page)
Address: 2 Chemin de Cro Magnon, 24620 Les Eyzies-de-Tayac, France
Services: Free parking, gift shop, toilets
A recreation of a paleolithic rock shelter dwelling at the Abri Cro-Magnon. It is quite cozy.
