The oldest artistic traces of Neanderthal right here at La Roche-Cotard
The cave of La Roche Cotard
Hidden on our land, the La Roche-Cotard cave holds much more than remains. It conceals secrets, silent witnesses of Neanderthal Man, whose engravings date back over 57,000 years. And yet, this treasure almost stayed hidden forever...
A secret revealed by a curious dog
The story goes that it was thanks to a four-legged companion that our cave was discovered.
One day, the former owner of La Roche-Cotard followed his dog, which had slipped into a small passage. What the dog had discovered was none other than the secret entrance to the La Roche Cotard cave, still sealed and invisible from the outside. Time passed before the archaeologist Jean-Claude Marquet looked into this mysterious place, nearly 60 years later.
Note: here, it’s not the dog that discovered the cave, but Taco, who is now part of the family and often walks around the site.
Mysterious and symbolic engravings, at the heart of La Roche-Cotard, a unique artistic treasure in Europe
What we have here at La Roche-Cotard are simple finger-drawn motifs that seem to form a visual language whose key we have lost.
Neanderthal left a unique imprint.Each line, each mark, bears witness to an intention, a message left on our walls millennia ago. From wavy lines to triangular shapes, these engravings are silent marks of a connection we still share with our ancestors.
The key stages of this discovery
- First discovery of the cave during quarry exploitation.
- The first exploration is carried out by the owner, who, intrigued by his dog's indications, clears a path to the cave.
- Excavations resumed by Jean-Claude Marquet.
- Start of interdisciplinary research.
- Identification of the first engravings on the walls.
- Publication of results confirming the engravings’ dating to over 57,000 years.
Explorations that traverse time
Since this first opening more than a century ago, excavations conducted here have revealed fascinating discoveries.
Jean-Claude Marquet recognized the significance of these Neanderthal traces.
But according to him, the discovery of this cave was almost a miracle. At the time, the La Roche-Cotard quarries were being used to build the train track embankment. The exploitation stopped just near our site. If the work had continued even a few meters further, the cave could have collapsed, taking its millennia-old secrets with it.
Through decades of research, we have followed Marquet's journey, discovering together tools, traces of hearths, and these engravings, which connect us to Neanderthal Man and his artistic spirit.
The mysteries of the pillar chamber
When venturing into the depths of the La Roche Cotard cave, one arrives at the pillar chamber, where eight engraved panels can be found.
This space seems to have a particular significance: clues suggest it may have been reserved for rites or symbolic practices.
The deeper you go, the fewer traces of domestic activities there are. In this enigmatic room, we feel the aura of a sacred place, a space that invites reflection and interpretation.
Neanderthal, the first co-liver of La Roche Cotard
Neanderthal, a true artist
Here, Neanderthal is not just a simple co-liver from the past; he is an artist, a dreamer, a visionary.
In the engravings of La Roche Cotard, we sense the creative drive, the desire to represent oneself, to leave a mark. For a long time, our ancestor was underestimated, reduced to a brute. But here, he left us a legacy that transcends stereotypes and reminds us that art is a universal human obsession.
If this story has captivated you as much as it has us, don’t hesitate to contact us to learn more, or why not become one of the next co-livers of La Roche Cotard. Come live in a castle, immersed in a place full of history, where past and present meet.