A TV show devotes an issue to this famous cave in the Pyrénées-Orientales

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The Pyrénées-Orientales in the spotlight, this Thursday, November 28, 2024, on France 5. At 9:05 p.m., the public service channel will broadcast its program Science Grand Format tour in the department. Presented by Mathieu Vidard, this issue is entitled: “Tautavel: living in Europe before Neanderthal”.

A program in the footsteps of the man from Tautavel

As its name suggests, it is the village of Tautavel and its famous cave (the Caune de l'Arago) which will be at the heart of this program. This site in the Catalan country has been known since the discovery, in 1971, of a human skull perfectly preserved by Henry and Marie-Antoinette de Lumley.

“We know today that this human belongs to a still unknown species: A man from Heidelbergan ancestor of the Neanderthals who left us 3% of our genetic heritage,” explains France 5.

This 90-minute broadcast will provide a portrait of this ancestor who lived more than 450,000 years BCE. We will also discover how it was able to survive the ice ages.

“Despite the fact that they lived half a million years ago, in an extreme environment, sometimes eating their peers, Neanderthal ancestors had a character trait that made them our equal, a human apart whole: compassion,” adds the TV channel.

A reconstruction of the cave visible at the museum

The Cave of the Aragon is a major archaeological site in Europe. The cavity, where excavations began in 1964, is located three kilometers from the village. Unfortunately, it is not accessible to the general public. However, a partial reconstruction is visible at Tautavel Prehistory Museum.

If you want to know more about the history of Tautavel man, the village's scientific and cultural complex is open almost all year round. Find timetables and prices by clicking here.

Practical information
Large Format Science, “Tautavel: living in Europe before Neanderthal”
Thursday November 28, 2024, 9:05 p.m., on France 5 on france.tv.

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