Prehistoric Finds La grotte des Pins In May 1967 a team of speleologists attempted to enlarge a natural opening exposed by erosion. Their work exposed a large hidden room 5m high and on the floor of the room they found fragments of ceramics. Further exploration uncovered tools, objects, and much scattered charcoal, up to 60 cm thick in places possibly from prehistoric torches. Theories at the time suggested that the cave served as a cellar or storage, rather than a habitation, since a lack of air circulation made hearth fires difficult. Baume du Roc du Midi In 1979 at Baume du Roc du Midi, a cave which opens out from the cliff on the edge of the
causse de Blandas at a lookout with a view over the
Cirque de Navacelles, archeologists discovered a walled part of the cave, closed since the Middle Ages, but inhabited continuously from prehistory into protohistoric times. Inside the walled portion, many objects including two copper daggers with serrated blades, a bronze axe, a riveted bronze dagger, bronze sconces, spear-tips, and many other
Bronze Age objects La Baumelle A discovery was made in 2009 by speleologists in a prehistoric cave which had been blocked for over 5000 years. On August 10, 2009, speleologists, along with
Laurent Bruxelles and Philippe Galant, from
Institut national de Recherches archéologiques préventives, began a 10-day exploration of the find. The entrance was blocked by a
menhir or
stele. This sandstone monolith with engraved surface had been moved from a deposit found at
Montdardier 5–6 km from the cave. Prehistoric remains were discovered: skulls, some covered in calcite, pieces of water-collecting vessels, ceramic shards, and a furnished hallway.
Megaliths see also
Mégalithes du causse de Blandas (fr) ==See also==