TheArchaeological and Botanical Park of Solutre (“Parc archéologique et botanique de Solutré” inFrench) (13,000 m²) is anarchaeological site andbotanical garden maintained by the Musée départemental de Préhistoire,Solutré-Pouilly,Saône-et-Loire,Bourgogne,France. It is open daily but closed in December.
The park preserves one of the richestarchaeological sites ofprehistoric Europe: a hunting site used for more than 25,000 years during theUpper Paleolithic period, where hunters came to hunt and butcher thousands ofhorses andreindeer.Flint tools from this site have been termedSolutrean style. It was first excavated in 1866, classified as a historic monument in 1942, transferred to the management of the Conseil général de Saône-et-Loire in 1993, and opened to the public in 2006.
The park contains a marked trail through the former hunting site, with eight information areas describing the natural environment, its plant species, and results of archaeological research to date. Described are geology, animals in prehistoric times, hunting techniques, the landscape in prehistoric times, the site's discovery and initial excavation, and contemporary excavations.
Many regional trees, shrubs, and plants are labeled, includingAcer campestre,Fraxinus excelsior,Juglans regia,Prunus mahaleb,Pyrus communis,Quercus pubescens, andRobinia pseudoacacia;Cornus sanguinea,Hippocrepis emerus,Ligustrum vulgare,Prunus spinosa,Ribes uva-crispa,Rosa canina, andSambucus nigra;Aceras anthropophorum,Campanula rotundifolia,Clematis vitalba,Crataegus monogyna,Fragaria vesca,Geranium dissectum,Geranium molle,Geranium robertianum,Helleborus foetidus,Himantoglossum hircinum,Hypericum perforatum,Rubia peregrina,Rumex scutatus,Sanguisorba minor,Saponaria officinalis,Seseli montanum,Sedum album,Sedum reflexum, andVerbascum thapsus.
46°17′52″N4°43′11″E / 46.2978°N 4.7198°E /46.2978; 4.7198