Prehistoric Cave Art of Spain France - Archaeology · Prehistoric Cave Art of Spain & France...

Highlights• InvestigatesouthwesternEurope’smostextraordinary

prehistoriccaves,includingLascaux IV,anew,exactreproductionofoneofthemostremarkableprehistoricsiteseverdiscovered;Altamira II,aprecisereplicaoftheoriginalthatisoftencalledthe“SistineChapelofPrehistoricArt;”Atapuerca,themostsignificantearlyhumansiteinwesternEurope;Las Monedas CaveandCueva del Castillo,where180animallikenesseswerepaintedsome12,000-14,000yearsago;Cougnac,whichfeaturespaintingsofextinctmegalocerosandmammoth;Pech Merle,knownforits“negativehandprints;”andothers.

• Travelwithworld-renowned archaeological author Paul Bahn,agiftedandpopularlecturerwhoregularlyleadstours

tostudytheprehistoryofSpainandFrance,includingthisprogram.Dr.Bahnwillenhanceyourunderstandingofthesiteswithlecturesandinformaldiscussions.

• Tourarchaeologicalandethnographicmuseumswithsuperbexhibitsofprehistoricartifacts,includingtheMuseum of Human EvolutioninBurgos,Altamira Museum, Museum of Les Eyzies,andtheMuseé d’Aquitaine;plusthemodernartcollectionsofBilbao’sGuggenheim Museum.

• Explorecharmingvillagesandcities,includingSantillana del Mar and San Sebastian.

• Enjoyexcellent accommodationsinfinehotelsandcharminginns,aswellasfine wine and cuisine.

Prehistoric Cave Art of Spain & FranceSeptember 19 - October 1, 2018 (13 Days) with prehistorian Paul Bahn

© HTO

"Paul conveyed a great deal of information in an interesting way. He was friendly, very patient and happily answered questions from our group." - James, Nevada

Itinerary

Wednesday & Thursday, September 19 & 20, 2018 ~ HOME / BILBAO, Spain / SANTILLANA DEL MAR

DeparthomeonindependentflightstoBilbao,Spain.ArrivinginthemorningorearlyafternoononSeptember20th,takeagrouptransfertothecharmingmedievaltownofSantillana del Mar.OneofEurope’smostperfectlypreservedmedievalvillages,SantillanadelMarretainsaromanticambiancewithits14th-through16th-centurytowerspunc-tuatingtheskyline.Aftercheckinginatourhotel,takeawalkingtourofthevillage,notingitsrootsfromtheearlyMiddleAgeswhenthefirstdwellingsaroseintheshadowoftheRomanesquemonasteryofSantaJuliana.Gatherforawelcomedinneratourhotelthisevening.Overnight at Parador de Santillana for two nights. (day2:D)

Friday, September 21 ~ SANTILLANA DEL MAR / ALTAMIRA II / PUENTE VIESGO CAVES

Todayisdevotedtovisitingcavesthatarecelebratedfortheirancientrockart.ThismorningwevisitAltamira II,anexactreplicaofAltamira(the“SistineChapelofPrehistoricArt”),decoratedwithvividdepictionsofbisonandotheranimalsdatingback15,000years,atestamenttotheartists’skillinusingrockformationstoaccentuateperspective.WealsovisittheAltamira Museum,withitshighlyinformativeexhibitsonCantabrianprehistoryandcaveart.Thisafternoon,wedepartforthelushPasValley,hometothevillageofPuente Viesgo,the“PrehistoricCapitalofCantabria.”WeexploreLas Monedas CavesandtheCueva del Castillo,where180imagesofhinds,horses,bison,deer,goats,au-rochs,canids,andmammothdatingback12,000-14,000yearscavortonthewalls.WereturntoSantillanadelMarfordinneronourown.(B,L)

Saturday, September 22 ~ SANTILLANA DEL MAR / BILBAO

OnourreturntoBilbao,wedrivethroughthedramaticCarranzaGorgestovisitthesmallCovalanas Cave,wheresomeoftheprehistoricdraw-ingsarerenderedinalittle-usedtechniqueknownas“theinkpad,”inwhichlinesarecreatedfromdotsofredpigment.Thisafternoonisde-votedtoBilbao’sspectacularGuggenheim Museum,FrankO.Gehry’sarchitecturalmasterpiece.Thisbreathtakingmodernstructureconsistsof19galleriesclusteredaroundacentralatriumthatsoarsskywardfor165feet,beautifullyilluminatedbynaturallight.Thetitaniumroofisaunique, twisting,curving,metallicsculpture that integrates thecity’sindustrial waterfront with the nearby historic and business districts.Overnight at the Gran Hotel Domine for two nights.(B,D)

Sunday, September 23 ~ BILBAO / ATAPUERCA / BURGOS / BILBAO

Afterbreakfastthismorning,wevisitthecavesofAtapu-erca,aUNESCOWorldHeritagesite,whichhaveprovidedtheearliestandmostabundantevidenceofhumankindinEurope.Continueon toBurgos,wherewewill have timeforlunchandabriefvisittoBurgos CathedralbeforeweexploretheimpressiveMuseum of Human Evolution.ThiseveningisatleisureinBilbao.(B,L)

Monday, September 24 ~ BILBAO / SAN SEBASTIAN / BORDEAUX, France

WedepartSpain forFrancethismorning,stoppingalongthewayinthecharmingcityofSan Sebastianforsomefreetime.Afteraleisurelyindependentlunch,wewillcontinuetoBordeaux,well-knownforitswineindustry,whichattributesits“GoldenAge”tothe18thcenturywhenfar-sightedcity

B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner

Above, a bison, Altamira II. Below, a doe, Altamira II. Bottom, the Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao.

Spain

FranceAltamira II

Las Monedas / El Castillo

Bay of Biscay

Santillana del Mar

Bilbao

Atapuerca

San Sebastian

Niaux

Pech Merle

Pair-non-Pair

Bordeaux

Les Eyzies-de-Tayac

Font-de-GaumeCap BlancLascaux IV

Rouffignac

Toulouse

Burgos

Cougnac

© Nicolas Vigier

fathersredesigneditsurbancentertomakeittheclassicalmasterpieceweknowtoday.ItsolddistrictisoneofthelargestprotectedarchitecturalneighborhoodsinallofFrance,whichwewillexploreonawalkingtour.Overnight at the Hotel Burdigala.(B)

Tuesday, September 25 ~ BORDEAUX / LES EYZIES-DE-TAYAC

ThismorningwevisittheMusée d’Aquitaine,amuseumofhistoryandarchaeol-ogyexhibitingprehistorictopresent-dayartifactsoftheAquitaineregion,includ-ingtheIceAgebas-reliefoftheVenusofLaussel,oneoftheearliestandmostfamousimagesofwomeninprehistory.AfterfreetimeforlunchinBordeaux,wewillvisittheprehistoriccaveofPair-non-Pair,knownforitsanimalengravingsandfossilizedanimalbones,andthencontinueontoLesEyzies.Overnight at Hotel Le Cro-Magnon for four nights.(B,D)

Wednesday, September 26 ~ LES EYZIES / THE PÉRIGORD REGION

The Périgord Region in the southwest of France is Europe’s most importantprehistoricregion.Itsterrain,crisscrossedbygentleriversflowingamidstextraor-dinarylimestoneformations,offerednumeroussheltersandcavesforourearlyancestors. Through expressive cave paintings, tools, and excavated remains,witnessevidenceofhumanexistenceandculturalevolution.BeginwithavisittotheMuseum of Les Eyzies,exhibitingartifactsfromseveralmillenniaofprehis-tory,andthenexploretheshelterofCap Blanc,whichfeaturesasculptedfriezeoflife-sizehorses.AfterlunchatleisureinLesEyzies,visitthecaveofFont-de-Gaume, featuringsome230paintingsandengravings,andthenreturntoLesEyziesforaneveningatleisure.(B)

Thursday, September 27 ~ THE PÉRIGORD REGION

BeginthedaywithadrivetotheprehistoriccaveofCougnac,knownfor itspaintingsofextinctmegalocerosandmammoth.AfterlunchonyourowninSarlat,wedrivealongcountryroadstotheprehistoriccaveofRouffignac.Exploreitsgalleriesonboardatrain,admiringthenumerousengravingsofmammoth,rhinoceros,horse,bison, andmountaingoat representedon itswalls.OnourwaybacktoLesEyzies,westopatthesiteofAbri Pataud,whereextensivediggingintheearly1960srevealedastonishingdetailsofthelifeoftheCro-Magnons.(B,D)

Friday, September 28 ~ THE PÉRIGORD REGION

OurdaystartswithavisittoLascaux IV,thenewestreplicaofoneofEurope'smostsignificantprehistoricsites,famousfortheprofusionofhigh-qualityandmulti-coloredanimalpaintingsonitswalls.Itisthemostcompletereplicatodate,repre-sentingnearlyalloftheoriginalcave’spaintings,andincludesaninterac-tiveexhibit.ContinueontoLe Thot,amuseumandanimalparkoflivingspe-ciessimilartothosethatoccupiedthisregionduringtheUpperPaleolithic,suchasreindeer,Europeanbison,aurochs,Przewalskihorses,ibex,andredandfallowdeer.EndthedaywithavisittoLascaux II,anearlierexactreplicaofthefamouscave,wherewewillhavemoretimetostudythemanyfiguresinsomedetail.ReturntoLesEyziesforaneveningatleisure.(B)

Above, the Dordogne Valley. Below a prehistoric deer painting. Bottom, the entrance to Abri Pataud.

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© Thesupermat

TheArchaeological InstituteofAmerica (AIA) is theoldestand largestarchaeologicalorganization inNorthAmerica.TheAIAseekstoeducatepeopleofallagesaboutthesignificanceofarchaeologicaldiscovery.FormorethanacenturytheAIAhasbeendedicatedtotheencouragementandsupportofarchaeologicalresearchandpublication,andtotheprotectionoftheworld’sarchaeologicalresourcesandculturalheritage.BytravelingonanAIATouryoudirectlysupporttheAIAwhilepersonallygainingthebenefitoftheAIA’snetworkofscholarsandworldwidecontacts.

Negative hand print, Pech Merle.

Dr.PaulG.Bahnisaleadingarchaeologicalwriter,translator,andbroadcasterinthefieldofarchaeology.HeisaContributingEditoroftheAIA'sArchaeologymagazine,andhisarticle"CloningAltamira"(Archaeology,March/April2001)focusedontheAltamiraIIcomplexandmuseumthatwevisitonthisprogram.Dr.Bahnhaswrittenextensivelyonprehistoricart,includingthebooksImages of the Ice Age, The First Artists, The Cambridge Illustrated History of Prehistoric Art, and Cave Art: A Guide to the Decorated Ice Age Caves of Europe.Hehasalsoauthoredand/oreditedmanybooksonmoregeneralarchaeologicalsubjects,bringingabroadperspective tounderstanding thesitesandmuseums thatwewill visit.Such titles includeThe Cambridge Illustrated History of Archaeology; Archaeology: Theories, Methods and Practice; The Penguin

Archaeology Guide; The Cambridge World Prehistory;and Archaeology: The Whole Story.

BorninKingston-upon-Hull,Britain,heholdsaPh.D.fromtheUniversityofCambridge,andisaFellowoftheSocietyofAntiquaries,aCorrespondingMemberof theAIA,andamemberofnumerous internationalprofessionalorganizations, including thePrehistoricSocietyandtheSociétéPréhistoriqueFrançaise.Dr.Bahnhasbeeninvolvedinbringingthefieldofarchaeologytotelevisioninvariouscapacities.HewasanadvisorintheDordogneandPyreneesontheBBCproductionofThe Making of Mankind,andaconsultantonasegmentofWGBH'sNovatrilogyHuman Origins,filmed inFrance.HisresearchandlecturingonarchaeologicalstudytourshavetakenhimtoimportantarchaeologicalsitesaroundtheworldinEurope,NorthAmerica,Africa,andPolynesia.He isagiftedandpopular lecturerwho regularly leadsAIA tours tostudy theprehistoryofSpainandFrance.Dr.Bahn'sbroadexpertiseintheareaofprehistoricart,combinedwithfluencyinFrenchandadeepregardfortheregionswewillvisit,uniquelyqualifyhimasalecturerpar excellence.

Saturday, September 29 ~ LES EYZIES / TOULOUSE

DepartLesEyziesafterbreakfastandvisit thecaveofPech Merle,particularly known for prehistoric paintings of mammoth and horse,aswellas“negativehandprints.”After lunchinthetownofVers wecontinueontoToulouse,forawalkingtourandtheremainderoftheafternoonandeveningatleisure.Overnight at the Hotel Crowne Plaza for two nights.(B,L)

Sunday, September 30 ~ TOULOUSE / NIAUX

VisittheoutstandingcaveofNiaux,perchedhighabovetheriverandcomprisinga vast networkof galleries that stretchover amile. Theexquisitepaintingswithinrepresentbison,horse,andibex.Weenjoyalightlunchnearby.Gatherthiseveningforourfarewelldinner.(B,L,D)

Monday, October 1 ~ TOULOUSE / HOME

TransferthismorningtotheToulouseairportforflightshome.(B)

About the Archaeological Institute of America & AIA Tours

Archaeological Institute of America Lecturer and Host

© Jack Versloot© Copyright 2017 Eos. All rights reserved. Photos courtesy of commons.wikimedia.org.

What to ExpectAllparticipantsareexpectedtobephysicallyactiveandnotbeanimpedimenttoothersonexcursions,to enjoy traveling as part of a group, and to bereadytoexperienceculturaldifferences.Participantswho are not able to walk unassisted for extendedperiodsarekindlyadvisednottojointhistourunlessaccompaniedbyacompanionwhowillbeavailabletoassistyouatalltimes.Ifyouhaveanyquestionsabout your ability to participate, we suggest thatyouvisityourpersonalphysicianwith thisbrochurein hand, and discuss whether or not the programisappropriateforyou.VISITSTOTHECAVESANDOTHER ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES NECESSITATEWALKINGQUICKLYANDCLIMBINGUNASSISTED,WITHOUTHANDRAILS,SOMETIMESOVERSTEEPOR SLIPPERY TERRAIN AND IN DARK OR DIMLYLIT SPACES. Weather in Spain and France in lateSeptemberisgenerallypleasant,withaveragedaytimetemperatures ranging from the 50s to 70s F. Cavetemperaturesaverage55°Fandhumiditylevelsreach95%. Please note that no photography is allowedinsidethecaves.Detailedpre-departureinformationwillbesenttoparticipants.

Air ArrangementsInternationalairfare fromhome toBilbao,Spain,andreturning from Toulouse, France, is not included.Complimentary transfers are provided for thosearrivingonSept.20thanddepartingonOctober1st(see"Prices Include" fordetails).Onceyouhave receivedyour final payment invoice, you should contact yourpreferredTravelAgentor airline tobook your flights.Ifyouareconsideringbookingyourflightsbeforethistime,pleasecontactourofficefirst.Wedonotacceptliabilityforcancellationpenaltiesrelatedtodomesticorinternationalairlinetickets.

AccommodationsWe have carefully selected our first-class hotelsandinnsfortheircharm,comfort,andlocation.Ouraccommodations include two nights at the lovelyParador de Santillana,andfournightsattheHotelLeCro-Magnon, ideally located inthecharmingvillageofLesEyzies-de-Tayac.

800-748-6262Fax: 603-756-2922 Toll: 603-756-2884

Email: aia@studytours.org Website: www.aiatours.orgP.O. Box 938, 47 Main Street, Suite One,

Walpole, NH 03608

For questions, or to make a reservation, please contact us:

Tour Prices (Per Person)DOUBLE Occupancy (15-20 participants) ................................................. $7,645DOUBLE Occupancy (10-14 participants) ................................................. $8,395SINGLE Supplement (limited availability) ...................................................$1,105

Singleroomsupplementwillbechargedwhenrequestedorrequired.Withfewerthan10participants,asmallgroupsurchargemaybeadded.

Prices Include:• LeadershipofAIAlecturerandhostPaulBahn;• AcopyofPaulBahn’sCave Artguidebook;• Elevennights’accommodationsasoutlinedintheitinerary;• Mealsasnotedintheitinerary,includinghousewinewithdinners;• GrouparrivaltransferonSept20th(flightsshouldarrivebyearlyafternoon);• IndividualdeparturetaxitransfersonOctober1st;• Allentrancefeestositesincludedintheitinerary;• Surfacetransportationinair-conditionedmotorcoachwithbottledwater

provided;• Professional,English-speakingTourManager/Guidethroughout;• Localtaxesandservicecharges;• Allgratuitiestodrivers,waiters,andporters;• GratuitiestotheTourManager/Guide;• Handlingoftwopiecesofcheckedluggageperperson;• Practicalandculturalinformation,suggestedreadingguide,namebadge,

passportwallet,andluggagetags.

PRICES DO NOT INCLUDE:Anyairfare;passportandvisafees;allairportfeesanddeparturetaxes;alcoholicbeverages(exceptasindicatedabove);excessbaggagecharges;personalandbaggageinsurance;anyactivitiesnotspecifiedintheitinerary;allitemsofapersonalnaturesuchaslaundry,medicalexpenses,androomservice.

PASSENGER CANCELLATION FEES: Allrequestsbypassengersforcancel-lationsmustbereceivedinwritingbyAIATours.Cancellationsreceivedatleastonehundredtwentyone(121)dayspriortodeparturearefullyrefundedlessanadministrativefeeoffivehundreddollars($500)perperson.Cancellationsreceivedbetweenonehundredtwenty(120)andninetyone(91)dayspriortodeparturearesubjecttoafeeequaltofiftypercent(50%)ofthetourcost.Cancellationsreceivedninety(90)daysorlesspriortodeparturearesubjecttoapenaltyof100%ofthetourcost. You are strongly encouraged to obtain trip cancellation insurance (an application will be sent with confirmation of receipt of your deposit).

NOTE: Prices, lecturer, and itinerary are subject to change. Entrance to the caves can be subject to restrictions. Ratesarebasedontariffsandexchangeratesineffectatthetimeofprintingandaresubjecttochangepriortodepar-ture.Substantialchangesintariffs,exchangerates,thepriceoffuel,servicesandlabormayincreasethecostofarrangementssignificantly,andwereservetherighttoalterourprices.Pricesquotedarebasedongroupparticipationandnorefundswillbemadeforanypartoftheprograminwhichyouareun-abletoorchoosenottoparticipate.Itisunderstoodthatrefundscannotbemadetopassengerswhodonotcompletethetourforwhateverreason.

Payments: Adepositof$1,000perpersonisrequiredtoreserveyourspaceonthetourandispayablebyVisa,MasterCard,AmericanExpress,orcheckmadepayabletoEOS-PassengerAccount-AIAPrehistory9/18.Finalpaymentisdue120dayspriortodepartureandmustbebypersonalcheckonly;creditcardsarenotacceptedforfinalpayment.Bysubmittingyourdeposityouareboundbythetermsandconditionsdelineatedthroughoutthisbrochureorelsewherepublished.

Duetospacelimitations,thisisabbreviatedinformation.Completetermsandconditionswillbesentuponconfirmationoruponrequest,andcanbeviewedonlineatwww.aiatours.org.