Terra Amata site is a location in southern France that holds the remains of a prehistoric camp. The site is in the city of Nice, on what was long ago a beach close to the Mediterranean Sea. Workers discovered the remains in 1965 during the construction of an apartment building. Archaeologists excavated the site, uncovering fossilized bones of prehistoric animals and stone tools used by prehistoric people. The Terra Amata site is important because it also preserves evidence of what may be the oldest known shelter built by human beings. A small museum stands over the original site.
The remains at the Terra Amata site date from between 230,000 and 380,000 years ago. Scientists believe that the site was made by Homo erectus (an early species of human being) or by early Homo sapiens (modern human beings). However, no fossilized remains of prehistoric people are found at the site. Instead, archaeologists at Terra Amata have excavated many double-edged stone cutting tools called hand axes. Prehistoric workers probably held these axes in their hands and used them without a handle for many tasks, such as shaping wood or bone, digging up tubers and other foods under ground, and cutting up meat. Many other kinds of stone tools have also been found at the site.
Fossilized bones found at the site include bear, deer, elephant, rhinoceros, wild boar, and wild cattle. Archaeologists believe that the site’s human occupants hunted these animals.
Archaeologists at Terra Amata excavated a row of stones and post holes forming an oval about 25 feet (7.6 meters) long and about 14 feet (4.3 meters) wide. The post holes, visible as patches of dark dirt, are thought to have held branches that were placed upright and covered to make a simple dwelling. Within the oval, archaeologists excavated the remains of a hearth surrounded with stones to protect a fire.
Archaeologists also recovered several coprolites left by the occupants of Terra Amata. Coprolites are fossilized feces (solid waste matter). Analysis of pollen preserved in the coprolites indicated that the site was occupied only part of the year, during the late spring and early summer.
Archaeologists think that Terra Amata was a camp site used seasonally over several years. However, other archaeologists disagree with this interpretation and doubt that the site shows clear evidence of a structure.
