Today was our return trip out to St. Germaine-en-Laye, our first trip was to the atelier of Maurice Dennis. When we went the first time we really enjoyed the town and we used the national archeological museum as an excuse to return.
It is housed in a chateau reconstructed by Francois I in 1539 repairing an earlier reconstruction by Charles V after the Black Prince burned it in 1347. So it is pure Renaissance except for the chapel which was built as a prototype for Saint Chapel in Paris. It was also the first resting place for the "Crown of Thorns" relic before that was moved to Saint Chapel.
The museum is not terribly large but it has marvelous exhibits of relics from prehistory up through the middle ages. It covers the cave art, paleolithic, bronze, and iron age eras with objects of art and domestic usage as well as weaponry. 
One outstanding piece is considered to be the earliest portrait of a woman in existence, from 22000 bc, The "woman from Brassempouy". Less than 2" tall it is exquisite.
Each epoch grouped together so that a person can "walk" through history by moving from room to room. It ends with a series of videos that highlight various digs that have been undertaken by the museum throughout France.
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