Isturitz and Oxocelhaya caves

The caves are within the territories of the communes of Isturits et de Saint-Martin-d'Arberoue, in the vicinity of Hasparren. They form part of a system of three caves carved into the limestone Gaztelu hill in succession by the Arbéroue stream, which flows into the Lihoury, a tributary of the Bidouze. The hill itself is surmounted by the Rocafort castle. • Isturitz Cave: the high cave in the hill, with openings on both sides of the hill. • Oxocelhaya Cave: 20 meters below Isturitz, notable for its calcite concretions. • Erberua Cave: where the Arbéroue stream runs today, with a siphon at each end; not explored until 1973. ==Isturitz cave==

The Isturitz cave is divided into two parts: the Hall of Saint-Martin (or South Hall) and the Main Hall or Hall of Isturitz (or North Hall). At the beginning of the Mesolithic, the opening that faces the town of Saint-Martin-d'Arberoue is estimated to have been 15 and 20 m wide and about 10 m high, making it visible to humans a distance. ==Human remains==

The most common human remains from Isturitz are cranial vaults, which have been cut-marked and modified to create drinking cups ("coupelles"), dating from the Magdalenian (~15 to 12,000 years BP). ==Gallery==

File:Isturitzspitze.JPG | Among Gravettian projectile points; a red box surrounds the two from Isturitz. File:Pointe MHNT PRE2010.0.7.2 fond.jpg|Assegai points File:Magdalenian engraving on stone, showing wounded ox. Wellcome M0011804.jpg | Engraving on stone found in a cave at Isturitz showing wounded ox with weapon in its side. Wellcome Images File:Isturitz big cat.jpg | Statuette from Isturitz found in 1896 but later lost. This is the drawing of the drawing of the photo of statuette. It represents probably cave lion cub or less probably Homotherium latidens. Statuette was made in Late Pleistocene. File:Izturitzeko zotz grabatuak.jpg | Baguettes demi-rondes (spear tips or points) engraved in spirals File:Grottes d'Isturitz et d'Oxocelhaya Félin, têtes d'ours et de bisons.JPG|Feline with heads of a bear and bison ==Source==