Period of occupancy Magdalénien moyen — Mésolithique (≈ 8000 av. J.-C.)
Stratigraphy certified on site
Fin des années 1980
Site discovery
Site discovery Fin des années 1980 (≈ 1980)
Following initial looting
2001
Beginning of archaeological excavations
Beginning of archaeological excavations 2001 (≈ 2001)
Systematic research initiated
6 novembre 2015
Site protection
Site protection 6 novembre 2015 (≈ 2015)
Registration as Historic Monument
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Bourrouilla cave : in total, the plate plot of the cave and its basement (C 266) : inscription by order of 6 November 2015
Origin and history
Bourrouilla Cave, discovered in the late 1980s after looting, is an exceptional archaeological site located in Arancou, New Aquitaine. Since 2001, systematic excavations have revealed a stratigraphy covering the average Magdalenian to the Mesolithic. The density of the remains, including an abundance of avian remains, suggests a seasonal occupation between May and October, providing an unprecedented insight into the territorial organization of that time.
The originality of the site lies in the diversity of human activities attested, questioning the traditional models of mobility and subsistence at the higher Paleolithic level. Collections from the excavations were acquired by the National Museum of the Prehistory of the Eyzies, highlighting the scientific importance of the site. Protected since 2015, the cave and its basement are now communal property, although practical information about its visit remains limited.
The location of the cave, although documented (GPS coordinates and address to Arancou, Pyrénées-Atlantiques), is considered of poor accuracy (note 5/10). This site illustrates the adaptation of prehistoric societies to their environment, with varied exploitation of local resources, including avian, and cyclical occupation linked to seasons.
