This document describes an archaeological study tour of caves and castles in Northern Spain and Southern France from September 4-18, 2016. The tour will be led by Dr. Roy Larick and will explore the natural and cultural history of the region, including evidence of early human habitation and use of caves. Sites to be visited include decorated caves open to the public, archaeological sites, and medieval castles built upon the limestone cliffs. The 15-day itinerary will cover four segments of ancient pilgrimage trails and introduce participants to the diverse landscapes, peoples, and cultures of the Franco-Iberian region.

1. An Archaeological Study Tour
212-986-3054
886-740-5130
archtours@aol.com
Niaux
© 2015 Bluestone Height
Introducing ‘Caves’ 2016
Roy Larick, PhD, Lecturer
Sept 4-18, 2016
15 Days
Caves & Castles
Northern Spain & Southern France

2. Caves/Castles route
Franco-Iberia cave landscape,
maps.data-spain.com
the natural and cultural foundation
for SW France and NE Spain.

3. Cave landscapes

4. Caves/Castles terrains
Four tour terrains
maps.data-spain.com

5. 150 Ma 60 Ma 20 Ma
150 Ma, Iberia was an
island mini-continent
lying between Africa and
Eurasia.
Africa was pushing
northeast. Iberia was
forced to collide with
“France.”
Franco-Iberia was born.
Spend two weeks
amidst collision ...
Franco-Iberia
The story begins with …
igc.catigc.cat

6. Rocamadour
Summits
lesnoyers46.com

7. Dordogne Valley
Valleys
vallee-dordogne-rocamadour.com

8. El Pindal
Shorelines
donsmaps.com

9. Bizkaia
The cave landscape emerged
as sea bottoms became
limestone highlands …
ucl.ac.uk/es

10. El MironMas d’Azil
… and caves grew within.
mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio

11. Pech-Merle
The caves are a world of their own—many have great beauty.
In some, Franco-Iberia’s early humans found life-sustaining resources.
en.wikipedia.org

12. Sahara
1.5 Ma, Africa was drying and early humans were leaving.
en.wikipedia.org
Earliest hominins in southwest Eurasia

13. Homo antecessor
The species are still mysterious.
en.wikipedia.org

14. Gibraltar
In crossing Gibraltar, the emigrants found Ice
Age Franco-Iberia to be moist and full of game.
earth.imagico.ce

15. cave cutaway
excavation
Atapuerca
Caves provided natural game traps
and, sometimes, living spaces.
We see the archaeological debris.
Atapuerca Foundation

16. full-glacial Cantabria
To keep fit, large mammals, humans included,
kept moving during much of the year.
As climates changed, entirely new territories
could be adopted.
wikimedia.org

17. Migration routes
Gibraltar
Madrid
Atapuerca
Les Eyzies
Caves and Castles follows
ancient ways.
Franco-Iberia was therefore
crisscrossed with migration
routes.

18. Atapuerca, Sima de los Huesos:
H. heidelbergensis burial site.
Sima de los Huesos:
H. heidelbergensis burial group structure
(29 individuals).
atapuercaevoluciona.org
iniciativadebate.org
Early hominins such as
Homo heidelbergensis
and
Homo neanderthalensis
used caves in special ways.
The evidence is surprising and,
as yet, difficult to understand.

19. Brassempouy
Forty thousand years ago, a new hominin,
Homo sapiens, arrived from Africa.
historyofinformation.com

20. Modern humans made good use of the cave landscape.
They took to the old pathways and, eventually,
took over the caves.

21. For Homo sapiens, caves became
places of deep meaning.
We recognize the symbols but still
struggle to comprehend intent.
tomysardinia.com

22. Lascaux
We visit all decorated caves ...
images.wisegeek.com

23. Rouffignac
… open to the public.
marsbrookholidayideas.com

24. Beynac
Just a thousand years ago,
feudal lords built castles
upon the cave cliff faces.
dordogne-et-perigord.com

25. Beynac New kinds of special places. wikimedia.org

26. The old pathways became
the routes for medieval
crusades and pilgrimages.
wikimedia.org

27. Caves and Castles covers four
pilgrimage trail segments.
wikimedia.org

28. La Rioja
Cantabria
the grill and La Rioja.
classictravel.com

29. Bizkaia
Basque seaside,
tapas and celtic cider.
gadling.com

30. Jurançon
Pyrenean foothills
Mediterranean influence; wines of Jurançon.
geo.fr

31. Quercy
Aquitaine
Duck and the wines of Cahors and Bergerac.
maisonriante.nl

32. Château de Mercuès
A night at the
Château de Mercuès
photo-paramoteur.com

33. Pech-Merle
Caves and Castles visits
core monuments to
human evolution.
Bahn and Vertut (1997)

34. Pech-Merle Heinrich Wendel (© The Wendel Collection, Neanderthal Museum)

35. An Archaeological Study Tour
Caves & Castles
Northern Spain & Southern France
212-986-3054
886-740-5130
archtours@aol.com
Niaux
© 2015 Bluestone Heights
Join me on ‘Caves’ 2016
Roy Larick, PhD, Lecturer
Sept 4-18, 2016
15 Days
Call Archaeological Tours

36. Roy Larick
Walk back in time
Look to the Future
Euclid bluestone outcrop
Doan Brook, Cleveland OH
Bluestone Heights
© 2015 Bluestone HeightsR. Larick
bluestoneheights.org
roylarick@gmail.com