A 450 m² permanent exhibition and the Martinet archaeological site offer different perspectives on prehistory in Sauveterre-La-Lémance. The SauveTerre Musée de Préhistoire is dedicated to prehistory and science; on the banks of the Lémance, information panels explain how natural resources were used in the Mesolithic. The thematic focus therefore ranges from a structured exhibition to a specific archaeological site.

The SauveTerre Musée de Préhistoire

Since 2011, the SauveTerre Musée de Préhistoire has been housed in Sauveterre-La-Lémance’s former covered market. The permanent exhibition covers 450 m² over two levels. In four sections, it explores the Sauveterrian period of the Mesolithic and how humans adapted to an ever-changing environment. This thematic journey connects a specific period with the broader question of how people responded to environmental change.

The exhibition uses lighting effects, video, touchscreens, hands-on facsimiles, audio stories and animal specimens to bring the subject to life. Models, facsimiles and touchscreens allow visitors to explore the world of our ancestors. A glass elevator connects the exhibition areas. The different features offer several ways to engage with the prehistoric world, from audiovisual experiences to exploring models and facsimiles.

The discovery trail combines an indoor and outdoor visit. It is open to the public and can be explored independently. A booklet is available on request at reception. Visitors who prefer to explore the themes at their own pace can follow the self-guided trail and ask for the booklet at reception.

Martinet and the history of the Sauveterrian

The Martinet archaeological site can be explored independently on a walk through the woodland along the banks of the Lémance. Information panels explain how people used natural resources during the Mesolithic. The period can thus be encountered beyond the exhibition, through a specific archaeological site and the use of its natural surroundings.

The regional context is the Lémance Valley, where archaeologist Laurent Coulonges researched prehistoric sites in the 1920s. At Martinet, he discovered a previously unknown prehistoric culture that is now known internationally and named it Sauveterrian. He dated the Sauveterrian to around 8,000 to 7,000 years ago. The research period of the 1920s and the much earlier dating of the culture therefore belong to different stages of this history. The name Sauveterrian links Coulonges’ discovery at Martinet with the classification of the culture as part of a Mesolithic period.

The two ways to visit offer different highlights: at the museum, four sections and a range of media guide visitors through prehistory; at Martinet, the focus is on a walk along the wooded riverbank and information about the use of natural resources. When planning your trip, you can choose based on whether you are more interested in a structured exhibition or an archaeological site.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Vianne, Fargues-sur-l’Ourbise, Bourgougnague, Sérignac-Sur-Garonne, Sainte-Colombe-De-Villeneuve, Prayssas, Labretonie, Salles.

For the broader travel overview: Lot Et Garonne.