Artifacts of Fontmaure

 sandstone, white quartzite and flint

At Fontmaure artifacts knapped of local sandstone are the earliest signs of human presence.

Dr. L. Pradel, archaeologist at Fontmaure from 1939 to 1972 called these paleoliths “Abbevillean, maybe early Acheulean”. Their coarse outlook, because of the sandstone material and a practical design make them important forerunners of the Mousterian artifacts made of jasper and flint later on.

It should be noted here that at this stage these early inhabitants of Fontmaure created sculptures of themselves and of animals around them