Thieves loot prehistoric tomb

Some of the earliest paintings have been discovered in caves in France

A Neolithic tomb in southern France has been looted only days after its discovery.

Several artifacts are believed to have been stolen from the tomb, which is described by experts as of "exceptional archaeological importance", 24 miles (40km) west of Montpellier.

Workmen building a new motorway discovered the cave - which is believed to be around 3,500 years old - near the village of Mourèze on Friday.

The cave paintings at Lascaux

The mayor of Mourèze, Gabriel Navas, had ordered the cave be sealed so experts from Paris could examine it on Monday.

The well-preserved skeletons of four people - thought to be a woman and three children - had been found along with pieces of pottery and a stone axe.

But when Mr Navas checked the cave on Sunday morning he found it had been looted.

'Disgusted by the human race'

He said the thieves removed a rock from the entrance but had not disturbed the skeletons.

Mr Navas, who said the town could not afford to pay for security guards, said the looters had taken pottery and an axe.

"I am disgusted by the human race," he said.

The cave is about 10 square metres in size and is believed to be a burial site.

Estimates suggest the findings are between 3,000-4,000 years old.

The region - in the foothills of the Massif Central - has other finds dating back to the same era, but the new site is thought to be the most important ever discovered.

France's most famous Cro-Magnon cave is Lascaux in the Dordogne region, where magnificent paintings of animals have been preserved.