Le Roc-Aux Sorciers

A recent outing to one of the latest tourist attractions in the area needs to be mentioned. The archaeological site Roc-Aux-Sorciers was both interesting informative and pleasurable. A newlybuilt discovery centre opened in March this year allows the public to be informed about an important and fascinating Magdalenian site which was discovered by an eccentric British archaeologist Dorothy Garrod in the 1940's. This discovery of a large settlement of nomadic people who returned habitually 15,000 years ago to this area by the river has been hailed as important as the cave paintings of Lascaux. The newly built discovery centre enables the visitor to learn something of the history of this site before passing through a chronological time zone that explains in context this archaeological find. 15,000 years ago a large settlement of 'homo sapiens' not only made this part of the river Anglin their home but into an overhanging sheltered rock surface they carved a story of their lives. This incredible freeze of horses, bison, women & men is as yet incomplete as it waits for other excavation to reveal the artwork of these ancient people. 20 metres of sculpture have been recovered but it is believed there is possibly many more metres not yet recovered. Therefore available to the public is a reconstruction of the sculptures currently exposed as well as a fascinating multi-media film that brings to life in sound and images the creation of this important find. We found the visit to 'Roc-Aux-Sorciers' a truly moving journey into the lives of people in the past.