The Mayenne-Sciences cave is one of the 22 caves in the Erve Valley, in Mayenne. This decorated cave is named after the speleologists' association that discovered it in 1967. It is accessible via the Dérouine porch, which you can easily see during your walk along the river. The charcoal drawings dating from the Gravettian period (-27 years ago) offer a breathtaking spectacle: the most remarkable panel is the mammoth-horse. The cave also contains engravings and deliberate traces of hands and fingers left by prehistoric people...
The porch of Dérouine
If you walk through the valley following the river, you will pass the entrance to the cave. It is through a small passage, now closed, that the speleologists of Mayenne-Sciences
entered for the first time.
The representations of the cave
Scientific research, led by archaeologist Romain Pigeaud, was carried out between 1999 and 2023, confirming the Mayenne-Sciences cave as a major and unique prehistoric site north of the Loire.
It was his latest campaign that led to the discovery of 59 representations in the cave, thus tripling the number of drawings studied. Abstract signs are the most numerous drawings (19 in total), there are 16 animal representations: 9 horses, 2 mammoths, 1 bison, 4 undetermined. The cave also has 18 engravings and 14 digital traces (fingers, palms, thumbs). A particularity: the hands were not completely applied to the wall, to mark only the tips of the fingers.
The representations were made with black pigment (charcoal) or in red for handprints (ochre or hematite).
Mayenne-Sciences, 55 years after the discovery
On the occasion of the 55th anniversary of the discovery of the cave, the museum team met with part of the team of speleologists who were present in 1967.
We have thus collected the testimonies
inventors.
Discover the anecdotes of each of them.
Preparing my visit: frequently asked questions
Answers to the most frequently asked questions in one click!
Is it possible to visit the Mayenne-Sciences cave?
The cave is closed to the public and cannot be visited on guided tours (to preserve the charcoal drawings and because access is very difficult). However, you can visit it virtually at the Museum of Prehistory in the dedicated immersive room, and explore the Dérouine porch, where the cave entrance is located, during a walk in the valley.
Do I need to book to visit the museum?
It is possible to visit without a reservation (unless the visit is combined with a cave tour). For guided tours (according to the schedule ), a ticket must be booked in advance.
How long does the visit last?
A self-guided tour of the Prehistory Museum lasts approximately 1 hour.
From what age can you visit the museum?
The museum is accessible to all ages . A game booklet is available for children (upon request at reception). For babies, we have designed a Baby Sapiens kit that follows the museum's route to introduce them to the visit.
Is the museum accessible to people with reduced mobility?
The museum is accessible to everyone : people with reduced mobility, all disabilities, strollers… Easy-to-read and easy-to-understand guides are available at the museum reception upon request.
Are animals/cameras allowed in the museum?
Animals are not allowed neither in the museum nor in the caves. They are, however, welcome for a walk in the valley, kept on a leash.
Photography is permitted in the museum.
What are the museum's opening hours?
Visits are possible from mid-February to mid-November: check the schedule.
