Soyons archaeological site
On the east side of the Guercy Massif, an exceptional cave complex, attesting to occupation by Neanderthal man, was discovered in 1870. Dug into the clayey limestone, the caves were tiered and form complex networks comprising chimneys and sealed tunnels. Each cave has been excavated on several occasions.
Currently, two prehistoric caves with concretions are open to the public: Nero’s Cave and The Fox Hole.
Nero’s Cave
Classified as a historical monument, Nero’s Cave invites you on a journey into prehistory. Visitors learn about the work of archaeologists and excavation techniques, the Neanderthals and their way of life, prehistoric methods for lighting fires, evolutions in tools and cutting flint and the prehistoric carnivores that once occupied the caves.
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The Fox Hole
The Fox Hole meanwhile, plunges you into a wonderful network of calcareous concretions (stalactites, stalagmites, draperies, etc.). Water seepage has sculpted the cave and has left a fairytale setting in its wake.
The archaeological museum
Located in Soyons village, the museum traces the history of local human occupation from prehistory to the Middle Ages, through the presentation of a selection of artefacts, organised according to their scientific interest and found during excavations carried out in Soyons and the surrounding area.
The museum comprises four permanent exhibition halls recounting human evolution in chronological order. Exhibits include the partial skeleton of a mammoth, Neanderthal stone tools, a sacrificial altar dedicated to the Goddess Soïo, a Gallo-Roman mosaic, ceramics and more besides.
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