Recent additions, changes and updates to Don's Maps
Recent additions, changes and updates to Don's Maps
Over 15 000 years ago, Ice Age hunters carved horses, bison and reindeer, some of which are over two metres long, straight into the Limestone cliffs at Cap Blanc.
The abri, which was discovered in 1909, is today the only frieze of prehistoric sculptures in the world to be shown to the public.
Last updated Thursday 02 September 2010
The Siberian Paleolithic site of Krasnyy Yar, located on the right bank of the Angara, about 200 km downstream of Irkutsk, which itself is 72 kilometres from the outflow of the Angara River from Lake Baikal, yielded in 1957, a highly stylised female figure. It is a small figurine of bone, carefully polished, whose size is 37mm x 11mm x 8 mm. The area at the time was an arid arctic steppe, and oil shale gathered nearby was used for fuel.
Last updated Sunday 29 August 2010
The site of Altenburg in the Stone Age was a particularly favorable place to settle. Excavations have uncovered a settlement of the Magdalenian hunters (about 17 000 BP). The tent-like dwelling was visited repeatedly over a number of summers. Floor plans and post holes of residential buildings have been identified. The most well known discovery is the "Venus of Nebra", one of three sculptures in ivory approximately 7 cm high.
Last updated Tuesday 24 August 2010

Jewellery, Pottery, and other artifacts from Dolni Vestonice
Last updated Sunday 22 August 2010

Roc de Marsal, a Neanderthal site in the Dordogne. The three year old child discovered in 1961 here was well preserved, and with a date of around 70 000 years BP it is one of the oldest burials of the Perigord.
Last updated Thursday 15 July 2010

La Grotte de la Vache is important for the complete camp of Magdalenian hunters found, and may be seen almost as it was 12 000 to 15 000 years ago. Weapons, tools, typical game and artworks have been recovered from this small but important site.
Last updated Tuesday 13 July 2010
The neanderthal skeleton from Kebara in Israel
Last updated Saturday 10 July 2010
Per's Plains of Passage trip from the Danube mouth to its source at Donaueschingen by motorcycle in 1998.
Last updated Monday 28 June 2010
The oldest cave paintings in Central Europe, estimated at between 23 000 and 35 000 BP, have been discovered by a team of Romanian speleologists at the Coliboaia Cave, Romania.
Last updated Wednesday 23 June 2010
Neandertal skeletons at Shanidar Cave in Iraq
Last updated Monday 14 June 2010
Genyornis, an extinct giant bird from the Australian Ice Age
Last updated Friday 04 June 2010
Grotte de Bédeilhac has a huge entrance and was a good shelter for Magdalenian hunters. There are two horizons with human remains.
Important finds include clay sculptures, bone polishers, baguettes demi-ronde, perforated horse teeth and many paintings and engravings on the walls.
Last updated Wednesday 26 May 2010
Niaux Cave, or la Grotte de Niaux is one of the most famous prehistoric caves in Europe. It lies in the northern foothills of the Pyrenees, and is located in Ariège, in the valley of Vicdessos, across the valley from the smaller Grotte de la Vache, in an area rich with prehistoric sites. The huge cave entrance, 55 metres high and 50 metres wide, is at 678 metres above sea level. There are more than two kilometres of galleries, with a hundred or more superb paintings from Magdalenian times, most of which are in the famous 'Salon Noir', 800 metres from the entrance.
Last updated Saturday 10 July 2010
Lightweight and Warm Sleeping Bags and Quilts
Last updated Sunday 16 May 2010
Grotte de la Mouthe was discovered in 1894, and was excavated by Emile Rivière. It contains more than 200 engravings and paintings of bison, horses, deer, cats, wolves, as well as two hands and a tectiform. The deposits in the cave record its use by Neanderthals and modern humans, based on the tools which were found there.
Last updated Saturday 15 May 2010
Lake Mungo is a dry lake in south-western New South Wales, Australia. Many important archaeological findings have been made at the lake, most significantly the discovery of the remains of Mungo Man, the oldest human remains found in Australia, and Mungo Lady, the oldest human remains in the world to be ritually cremated.
Last updated Friday 14 May 2010
Grotte de Bernifal is a cave decorated with over 100 engravings and paintings. It includes engravings of horses, bison, mammoths and ibex as well as the enigmatic tectiform (roof shaped) drawings seen in many other caves of the same period. It has changed very little in more than twelve thousand years, and has not been vandalised, since the original entrance was blocked with rubble when the last artists left.
Last updated Wednesday 12 May 2010
Les Combarelles in the Dordogne, with more than 600 images on its walls, most of them engraved, is considered to be one of the major sanctuaries of Magdalenian culture. This extraordinary site was discovered in 1901. Beyond the entrance of the cave two galleries diverge. The largest one, now open to the public, is a narrow and winding passage, following a zig zag pattern for more than 240 metres. The animals represented are finely engraved. A diverse fauna is represented, including horses, reindeer, ibex, mammoths, rhinoceros, bears, lions and a few bisons and aurochs.
Last updated Friday 07 May 2010

This is a very important and ground breaking paper by Mme Nicole Pailhaugue which summarises the fauna and seasons of occupation of the important site of La Grotte de la Vache, in the French Pyrenees. It deserves a much wider audience.
Last updated Saturday 10 July 2010
The cave of Mas-d'Azil is a large, 500 metre long tunnel dug by the Arize River through a wall of the Massif Plantaurelin, part of the Ariege Pyrenees. Secondary caves leading off the main tunnel were occupied at various prehistoric and historic times during a period of 20 000 years, and the objects found there gave the name of the cave to a prehistoric culture, the Azilian. It was excavated by Edouard Piette in the 19th century, who interpreted the halter-like marks on animal heads as being evidence of the domestication of reindeer and horses.
Last updated Thursday 08 July 2010
Archeology for Jean Auel fans - the sites and sculptures and places mentioned in Jean Auel's series of books on life in the ice age.
Last updated Friday 11 June 2010

Kimberley Points - superbly made tools from the north of Australia
Last updated Sunday 11 April 2010
A walk from the top of the Kosciuszko Express chairlift to Mount Kosciuszko, then to Lake Albina and return.
Last updated Friday 02 April 2010
The Travers - Sabine Circuit in the Nelson Lakes area is a wonderful mix of landscapes and vegetation, from beech forest to alpine moors. It is suitable for experienced, fit walkers who are prepared to spend five to seven days exploring the wonderful areas the tracks give access to. The highlights are the Robert Ridge walk to Lake Angelus, the ascent of the Travers Saddle, and the trip to Blue Lake.
Last updated Monday 22 March 2010

The Wangapeka track traverses the Southern Alps from the West coast to the eastern side of the mountains, passing through rainforest and alpine vegetation, as well as beautiful beech forests on the eastern side. It is a track for experienced, fit, self sufficient walkers. The huts rely on coal fires for warmth and cooking, and it is advisable to carry your own stove and fuel. There are many unbridged river and creek crossings, which may require a high level of experience to cross safely, or which may stop the walker entirely until conditions improve. You may well be the only person walking the track, and carrying a personal locator beacon is a wise precaution. Weather conditions can be extreme.
Last updated Saturday 20 March 2010
The Heaphy Track in New Zealand, 80 km long, has a wide variety of landscapes. It crosses the Southern Alps, taking the walker from the east to the west coast, through beech forests, alpine moors, mossy, very wet forests reminiscent of Lord of the Rings, a large and beautiful estuary at the entrance of the Heaphy River to the sea, then a superb walk along rocky and sandy ocean beaches, through groves of Nikau palms.
Last updated Saturday 20 March 2010
The Abel Tasman track follows the coastline along the north coast of the south island of New Zealand from Marahau to Wainui. Accommodation at either huts or tent sites must be booked in advance. It is a beautiful track with stunning coastal scenery, and the opportunity to take part in kayaking and guided walks, as well as catering for independent walkers.
Last updated Wednesday 17 March 2010
Lightweight Stoves
Last updated Friday 12 March 2010
Recent additions, changes and updates to Don's Maps
File last updated: Wednesday, 01st Sep 2010 20:41
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