CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY OF PRINCE ALBRT 1ST’S FOUNDATION OF THE MUSEUM OF PREHISTORIC ANTHROPOLOGY 

Founded in 1902 by Prince Albert 1st, “ to conserve the primitive human archeological remains excavated in the Principality and neighboring areas”, the Museum of Prehistoric Anthropology will celebrate its centennial anniversary Thursday May 16, 2002. Attracted by prehistory at an early age, Prince Albert 1st practiced excavations in Barma Grande in 1882-1883, and then hired Leonce de Villeneuve, Palace archivist and Museum curator, to continue these studies in the Princely caves (acquired in 1892).

Prince Albert created the museum as a means of conservation and to enable the public to discover the results of the studies he commissioned. The museum allowed him to present an invaluable series of home-sapien graves- the Cro-Magnons, similar to ourselves, brought to life in the Children’s Cave in 1901. Later, in 1955, the museum was placed in the heart of the Exotic Garden, as a response to a two-fold wish of Prince Rainier: offer an attractive presentation for the collection and equip the facility with research laboratories in animal and human paleontology, prehistoric archeology and sedimentology. The Museum of Prehistoric Anthropology will celebrate its centennial anniversary with a “Day of Prehistory”, under the patronage of the National Commission for UNESCO.