Musée de la Préhistoire: Unveiling the Azilian Past

The Musée de la Préhistoire in Le Mas-d'Azil offers a captivating journey into the prehistoric past of the Ariège region. Situated in the center of the village, facing the church, the museum serves as a vital extension to a visit to the Grotte du Mas-d'Azil, providing an ideal setting for examining numerous artifacts from the Azilian period. The museum's collection showcases the ingenuity and artistry of early humans, with a focus on items discovered in the Grotte du Mas-d'Azil. Among the highlights is the renowned 'Faon aux oiseaux' (fawn with birds), a Magdalenian spear thrower carved from reindeer antler, considered a masterpiece of Paleolithic art. Visitors can also marvel at the Magdalenian skull, the only human remain found in the Mas-d'Azil cave, presented alongside its scientific reconstruction. The museum also features an extensive collection of Azilian painted pebbles and microliths. The museum's exhibits are spread across three levels, with temporary exhibitions on the ground floor and permanent collections on the upper floors. The first room displays a chronological arrangement of prehistoric objects found in the Grotte du Mas-d'Azil: weapons, tools and sculpted art. The second room exhibits painted pebbles characteristic of the Azilian.