Archaeologists in France have uncovered what they believe to be the world’s oldest shell jewelry workshop, dating back at least 42,000 years.
The discovery was made at the Paleolithic site of La Roche-à-Pierrot in Saint-Césaire, Charente-Maritime, and is linked to the Châtelperronian culture—a key period marking the shift from Neanderthals to early Homo sapiens in Europe.
The site revealed pierced shells and mineral pigments in red and yellow tones, offering rare evidence of symbolic behavior in prehistoric societies. Researchers from CNRS, the University of Bordeaux, the Ministry of Culture, and the University of Toulouse 2 Jean Jaurès led the study, recently published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Signs of symbolism and mobility
Some of the shells showed no signs of wear, while others remained unpierced. This suggests the site served as an active production area rather than just a location where finished ornaments were used or discarded.
The shells originated from the Atlantic coast, roughly 100 kilometers away, and the pigments came from sources over 40 kilometers from the site—indicating either long-distance trade or high mobility among these prehistoric groups.
The Châtelperronian culture, which emerged between 55,000 and 42,000 years ago in parts of France and northern Spain, is considered one of the earliest Upper Paleolithic traditions in Eurasia.
It remains unclear whether the people behind these artifacts were late Neanderthals influenced by incoming Homo sapiens or members of an early Homo sapiens group themselves.
Tools, culture, and a shared landscape
Additional finds at the site included typical Neanderthal tools and the bones of hunted animals such as bison and horses. These items offer a broader view of life at the time, hinting at a diverse and adaptive population.
The presence of jewelry-making materials suggests early humans engaged in complex cultural practices such as personal adornment, social distinction, and identity expression.
Such behaviors are often associated with Homo sapiens, raising new questions about cultural overlap and interaction with Neanderthal groups.
Saint-Césaire’s continued importance
Saint-Césaire has long been a critical site for studying prehistoric life. Inhabited for nearly 30,000 years, it has yielded important archaeological material since excavations began in 1976.
More recent efforts, including the reevaluation of earlier collections and advanced excavation methods used since 2013, continue to deepen understanding of early human settlement and interaction in the region.
This discovery adds weight to the idea that symbolic expression—and possibly even early forms of cultural exchange—were present far earlier in Western Europe than previously confirmed, all centered at what may now be called the world’s oldest shell jewelry workshop.
