Le Préhistorama

Musée des Origines et Evolution de l'Homme

Useful Information

Location:	75, chemin de Panissière, 30340 Rousson. D 904, between Alès and St Ambroix. (44.204955, 4.131917)
Open:	FEB to JUN daily 14-18. JUL to AUG daily 10-19. SEP to NOV dayil 14-18. [2023]
Fee:	Adults EUR 6, Children (6-14) EUR 4, Children (0-5) free. Groups (20+): Adults EUR 5, Children (6-16) EUR 3, Children (4-5) EUR 2. [2023]
Classification:	Cave and Karst Museums
Light:	Incandescent Electric Light System
Dimension:
Guided tours:	self guided, D=1 h. Guided tours for groups: D=1 h. V=10,000/a [2019]
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	yes
Bibliography:
Address:	Le Préhistorama, 75, chemin de Panissière, 30340 Rousson, Tel: +33-466-858696. E-mail:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1986	created by Eirik Granqvist near Vallon Pont d'Arc.
1996	museum relocated to Rousson.
2011	collection of Bruno Guy integrated into the museum.

Description

The archaeological museum Le Préhistorama is dedicated to the human development during the Prehistoric. It has numerous showcases with archaeological remains and 40 dioramas. They show the typical landscape and are populated with stuffed animals by Eirik Granqvist, the creator of the museum, prehistorian, sculptor and taxidermist. Quite spectacular are the reconstructions of a mammoth and cave bears. More than 1,500 pieces of the collection are from the personal collection of Bruno Guy, the President of the non-profit association Les Amis du Préhistorama.

The exhibition covers all epochs of prehistory, from the first primate Australopithecus 6 million years ago, Neanderthal man, and cave paintings, to the age of metals. It shows artifacts and fossil bones, daily life and art. An ethnographic collection with contemporary objects unchanged since the Paleolithic explains manufacturing and use of numerous artifacts. It also has a geological exhibition with over 500 fossils as an overview of evolution from the beginning of life on Earth.

The museum is ideal for school classes as it offers not only realistic insights into the life of our ancestors, it also offers experimental archeology workshops. Several conferences were held here, like The Eskimos of Thule by Pentti Kronqvist, L'Aven de l'Arquet by Gérard Onoratini, and Animals of the Last Ice Age by Eirik Granqvist.