zoom_in Click to enlarge

Mont Bego Petroglyphs

▲ ▼

description Mont Bego Petroglyphs Overview

The Mont Bego Petroglyphs are an extensive collection of prehistoric rock art located in the Mercantour National Park in the French Alps. The site contains approximately 40,000 Bronze Age engravings concentrated around the Mont Bego massif. The carvings depict cattle, weapons, agricultural fields, and geometric grid patterns, providing archaeological insight into early agrarian and pastoral societies. It is situated in the Vallée des Merveilles, just north of Nice near the French-Italian border.

help Mont Bego Petroglyphs FAQ

Where are the Mont Bego Petroglyphs located?

The Mont Bego petroglyphs are located in the Vallée des Merveilles, or Valley of Wonders, in the Mont Bego massif near the French-Italian border. The site sits at high altitude above the town of Tende in the Alpes-Maritimes region of France.

How many engravings are at the Mont Bego site?

The site contains approximately 40,000 Bronze Age engravings, making it one of the richest concentrations of prehistoric rock art in Europe. The carvings are spread across multiple areas of the massif, including the Vallée des Merveilles and the adjacent Fontanalba valley.

What period are the Mont Bego petroglyphs from?

The engravings date to the Bronze Age, roughly between 1800 and 1300 BCE. They were created by agrarian societies that visited the high-altitude site during summer months, possibly as part of ritual or religious practices.

What do the Mont Bego engravings depict?

The carvings primarily depict geometric figures, agricultural symbols such as horned figures, and daggers or halberds. Many of the engravings are associated with a recurring figure often referred to as the 'God of Mont Bego,' though interpretations of the imagery remain debated among archaeologists.

swap_horiz

Looking for Mont Bego Petroglyphs alternatives? Compare top competitors ranked & scored

arrow_forward