Museum of Prehistoric Anthropology, Monte-Carlo

The Museum of Prehistoric Anthropology was established in 1902 by Prince Albert I with the purpose of preserving the remains of early human civilizations discovered in Monaco and its surrounding regions.

Initially, the Museum of Anthropology was situated on the Rocher, housed within the former Government House building. However, in 1959, during the reign of Prince Rainier III, the museum relocated to the western part of Monaco, situated within the Exotic Garden. It has remained in close proximity to the Observatory Cave, a significant prehistoric site utilized by various groups of ancient hunter-gatherers for over 400,000 years.

The architectural design of the Museum of Anthropology was crafted by the Monégasque architect, Louis Rué. The displayed collections allow visitors to trace the key phases in human evolution during both ice and interglacial periods. These collections demonstrate that more than a million years ago, the Côte d’Azur region was already a favorable environment for our distant ancestors to inhabit.

Visitors to the museum have the opportunity to view a Siberian woolly mammoth dating back 31,000 years. This mammoth was reconstructed from numerous skeletal fragments collected during several expeditions in the Siberian permafrost. The resulting mammoth reconstruction is truly impressive, measuring 5 meters in length, 2.20 meters in width, and reaching a height of 3.30 meters at its tallest point.

As a research institution, the Museum actively conducts field excavations, laboratory studies, and publishes an annual scientific bulletin. Its team is closely affiliated with the Principality's Government and receives support from an International Scientific Committee.

Tip:
The nearby cave (grotto) where the museum's artifacts come from is really cool. Tours go there every hour on the hour.