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Grotte de Cottier

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Site type:
Cave
Lat/Long:
45.21, 4.01
Country:
France
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The Grotte de Cottier is an archaeological site located in the hamlet of Cottier 2 km northwest of the commune of Retournac, Haute-Loire, which has yielded Magdalenian remains. The site is now closed to the public.

The various interventions made it possible to discover more than four thousand archaeological remains: reindeer wood spears, bone needles, and pierced teeth used as pendants. These discoveries are attributed to the Lower Magdalenian and therefore date from 15,000 to 18,000 BC. A dating made before 1976 on a calcined bone of level 2 gave 18,550 years ± 550 years AD.

Archaeologists have also discovered animal remains in the cave: cave cuon, collared lemming, snow vole, reindeer, chamois, and ibex. This assemblage of fauna indicates a cold climate.