Brassempouy is a famous excavation site located in Aquitaine France. Several famous pieces have been found during excavations at Brassempouy. The most famous is the “Dame à la capuche" (or "Dame de Brassempouy"). This ivory statue was discovered in 1894 is approximately 1 and 1/4 inches tall (3.2cm). This statuette, thought by some to be constructed by Cro-Magnon artists, is estimated to nearly 25,000 years old. If this is true, it could quite possibly be one of the earliest (if not the earliest) representations of the human face ever discovered. There have been at least 8 other statue figurines found at the site, some of which include; the "Poire", Ebauche", "Manche de poignard", "Figurine à la ceinture", "Figurine à la pélerine", "Fillette", "Ebauche de poupée", and the "Torse". All of these figurines were discovered in the mid to late 1800’s.
More recently (in 1983), the "Berceau" a small dagger/human like piece of Ivory was discovered. This piece is also said to be about 20,000 – 25, 000 years old. Many other ancient items such as weapons, tools, and flints have also been discovered at Brassempouy. All of these items and more are located in the museum of Nationals Antiquities in St Germain en Laye.
Sources:
“Human Evolution” Encyclopedia Britannica http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-67343, 30 Nov. 2000
“NYU Anthropologist Says Female Statuettes From Ice-Age Europe Were Carved To Protect Health OfPregnant Mothers” NYU Press Release http://www.sciencecoalition.org/oncampus/nyu/statuettes.htm, 1 Dec 2000
“The Valley of Horses” http://www.geocities.com/Athens/6293/series/bk2valley.htm, 1 Dec. 2000
“Site of Brassempouy” http://perso.wanadoo.fr/brassempouy/eg_frame.htm, 2 Dec. 2000
Written by, Jason Root