À Monaco et l'International, découvrez les missions des chercheurs du Musée ! vallc3a9emerveilles.jpg Missions à l'étranger Depuis plusieurs années, des missions (fouilles ou études de collections en laboratoire) sont conduites par le Musée à l’étranger : France, Italie, Chine, Corée du sud, Inde, Afrique, Croatie, Mongolie, Sibérie etc. See page fouilles04.jpg Sites archéologiques à Monaco De nombreuses fouilles archéologiques ont été menées par les équipes successives du Musée d’Anthropologie Préhistorique de Monaco. Le travail de terrain aussi bien que l’étude de matériel se poursuit encore aujourd’hui avec de nouvelles découvertes ! See page Les fouilles d'hier à aujourd'hui Les fouilles d'hier à aujourd'hui See page
Prince Albert I’s Excavations
In 1883, Prince Albert I continued the research begun by his grandfather, Prince Florestan I, in the Grimaldi Caves (Balzi Rossi, Liguria, Italy). The Barma Grande was partially excavated, but from 1895 onward, several sites were the focus of more structured investigations, notably the Prince’s Cave, the Children’s Cave, the Cavillon Cave, and the Lorenzi rock shelter.
Portrait du Prince Albert Ier de Monaco
In 1900 and 1901, the Prince ordered the excavation of significant deposits remaining in the Children’s Cave (despite previous excavations, nearly 8 meters of sediment still remained in place). The methodical excavation, led by Canon Léonce de Villeneuve, quickly yielded results. A first burial was discovered at the top of the sediment fill: the skeleton of a small woman dated to the Mesolithic period. Continued excavation, carried out through successive horizontal layers, revealed the stratigraphy of the entire deposit. Several meters below this first individual, two new burials were uncovered: a large male subject lying on his back with his arms folded over his chest, and a double burial containing the bodies of an elderly woman and an adolescent. These discoveries, made within a well-defined stratigraphic context, helped resolve the debate about the antiquity of these burials.
Le Prince Albert Ier était un fervent passionné de préhistoire. On le voit ici, le 23 juillet 1909, accompagné des abbés Henri Breuil et Hugo Obermaier, de Louis Tinayre et d’Hermilio Alcade del Rio, en visite sur les sites prestigieux des grottes ornées de la chaîne cantabrique en Espagne.
The Excavations of Léonce de Villeneuve
The first director of the Museum of Prehistoric Anthropology, appointed by the Prince, was Canon Léonce de Villeneuve. He led excavations at Balzi Rossi (Liguria, Italy) and later in Monaco (in the Cave of the Observatory, the Spélugues Cave, the Saint-Martin Cave, and the Bas-Moulins site).
Le Chanoine Léonce de Villeneuve lors des fouilles à la grotte du Prince (Balzi Rossi, Ligurie, Italie).
The Excavations of Louis Barral
Between 1940 and 1960, Louis Barral served as the curator of the Museum of Prehistoric Anthropology of Monaco.
He was the mastermind behind the development of the visitor pathways at the Cave of the Observatory (Exotic Garden). In parallel, starting in 1948, he presented the project for the new Museum of Prehistoric Anthropology of Monaco. Built near the Exotic Garden, the institution was designed to meet the demands of modern museography and scientific research. This vision was shared by Prince Rainier III, who wished to continue the work initiated by his ancestor, Prince Albert I. In 1953, construction began according to the plans of architect Louis Rué. The installation and opening to the public took place between 1958 and 1959, with the official inauguration held on November 20, 1960.
As a fieldwork expert, Louis Barral conducted numerous excavations in Monaco, France, and Italy. Among these sites, notable mentions include the Barriera Cave (La Turbie), the Repaire Caves (Roquebrune-Cap-Martin), the Rastel Cave (Peillon), the Pendimoun rock shelter (Castellar), the Saint-Benoît and Pertus II Caves (region of Annot, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence), and the Madeleine Cave (Villeneuve-les-Maguelonne, Hérault).
The Excavations of Suzanne Simone
Suzanne Simone served as the curator of the Museum of Prehistoric Anthropology of Monaco from 1975 to 2003.
She led several excavation projects in Monaco, France, and Italy, including the Prince’s Cave (Liguria, Italy), Aldène (Hérault), Venosa (Basilicata, Italy), Colombo (Liguria, Italy), the Observatory Cave (Monaco), and l’Herm (Ariège).
Contemporary Excavations
E. Rossoni-Notter, O. Notter, S. Simone et Coll.
Excavations have resumed at the Observatory Cave (Palaeolithic period), and for the first time, an extensive programme of preventive and rescue archaeology has been implemented. Within the Principality, the M.A.P. team is now frequently involved, alongside ongoing survey operations.
And what if you could dig too?
Join the Museum's team for training sessions and lectures through the Monegasque Association of Prehistory!