The Couze (French pronunciation: [kuz]) is a 30.1-kilometre-long (18.7 mi) tributary of the Dordogne in France,[1] with its source between Fongalop and Bouillac, and its mouth in Port-de-Couze. The lower half of the stream runs between limestone cliffs. The main villages along the river and its small tributaries are Beaumont-du-Périgord, Montferrand-du-Périgord, Couze-et-Saint-Front and Saint-Avit-Sénieur.

Couze
Couze (Dordogne) is located in France
Couze (Dordogne)
Couze (Dordogne) is located in Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Couze (Dordogne)
Location
CountryFrance
Physical characteristics
MouthDordogne
 • coordinates
44°49′53″N 0°42′11″E / 44.8315°N 0.7031°E / 44.8315; 0.7031
Length30.1 km (18.7 mi)
Basin features
ProgressionDordogneGironde estuaryAtlantic Ocean

Alongside the river many Paleolithic sites have been found, including the important sites of La Gravette which gave its name to the Gravettian, a major European prehistoric culture which lasted from more than 10,000 years between circa 33,000 BP and 21,000 BP; and Combe-Capelle. Remains from the Neolithic and later periods are more sparse, until habitation again increased in the Middle Ages.[2]

Paleolithic sites

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The first archaeological excavations started in the late 19th century, and intensified between 1900 and 1914. The main archaeologist working here was Denis Peyrony from Les Eyzies.[2]

Medieval sites

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Notes

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  1. ^ Sandre. "Fiche cours d'eau - La Couze (P50-0400)".
  2. ^ a b Lenoir, Michel and Dibble, Harold L. (1995). "Overview of the History of Prehistoric Research in the Couze Valley". The Middle Paleolithic Site of Combe-Capelle Bas (France). UPenn Museum of Archaeology. pp. 1–5. ISBN 9780924171383.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)