La Chapelle-aux-Saints

La Chapelle-aux-Saints

La Bouffia Bonneval, the discovery site of the Neanderthal burials of La Chapelle-aux-Saints

Coat of arms
La Chapelle-aux-Saints

Coordinates: 44°59′17″N 1°43′34″E / 44.9881°N 1.7261°E / 44.9881; 1.7261Coordinates: 44°59′17″N 1°43′34″E / 44.9881°N 1.7261°E / 44.9881; 1.7261
Country France
Region Aquitaine-Limousin-Poitou-Charentes
Department Corrèze
Arrondissement Brive-la-Gaillarde
Canton Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne
Intercommunality Sud Corrézien
Government
 • Mayor (2008–2014) Georges Chastanet
Area1 4.72 km2 (1.82 sq mi)
Population (2008)2 206
 • Density 44/km2 (110/sq mi)
INSEE/Postal code 19044 / 19120
Elevation 120–191 m (394–627 ft)

1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

La Chapelle-aux-Saints is a commune in the Corrèze department in central France.

History

First discovery of a Neanderthal tomb

The La Chapelle-aux-Saints cave, bordering the Sourdoire valley, revealed many archeological artifacts belonging to the late Mousterian culture,[1] including the first ever recognized Neanderthal burial discovered on August 3, 1908.[2] Jean and Amédée Bouyssonie, as well as L. Bardon, led archaeological digs in the cave from 1905 to 1908, discovering over 1,000 pieces of stone industry (mainly flint), bones of different fauna including reindeer, bovid, horse, fox, wolf and even a rhinoceros’ tooth.[1] The most spectacular discovery was that of a very well preserved skeleton of an adult Neanderthal man who appears to have been intentionally buried in a rectangular pit 30 centimeters deep, 1.45 meters long and 1 meter wide.[3]

This discovery led to a controversy between adversaries and partisans for the existence of tombs during the Mousterian. Arguments for the existence of a tomb were the sleeping position of the body, and the funeral "gifts" associated with the pit like stone tools and animal bones. Archeologists believe the Chapelle-aux-Saints cave wasn’t used as a habitat, but a place for funeral feasts.[1] One year later, at the La Ferrassie site, another Neanderthal tomb was discovered which helped to confirm the practice of entombment among Neanderthals during the middle Paleolithic.[4]

Modern period

During the French Revolution, the commune changed its name to La Chapelle-aux-Prés following a decree from the National Convention.

Population

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1962206—    
1968221+7.3%
1975217−1.8%
1982206−5.1%
1990179−13.1%
1999164−8.4%
2008206+25.6%

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 BINANT P., 1991 - Les sépultures du Paléolithique. Paris : Errance
  2. ↑ POSTEL B., 2008 - Neandertal et la mort. Archéologia n°458 : 6-11
  3. ↑ NOUGIER L.-R., 1963, La préhistoire : essai de paléosociologie religieuse. Paris : Bloud & Gay : 43-44
  4. ↑ Collectif, 1976 - Sépultures néandertaliennes. CNRS
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