Protohistoric camp, known as Camp de Sardasse à Béhasque-Lapiste dans les Pyrénées-Atlantiques

Timeline

Heritage classified

Origin and history

The Protohistoric Camp, known as Camp de Sardasse, is a monument located in the commune of Béhasque-Lapiste, in the department of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques (64). This site, dated from the Protohistory, is characterized by an enclosure with earth parapets, typical of the fortifications of this period. It was listed as a Historical Monument by order of 13 May 1981, stressing its archaeological and heritage importance.

The location of the site is approximate, with an accuracy considered fair (level 5/10 depending on the sources). The available GPS coordinates place the camp near the road to Bidegorria, at the limit of the communes of Béhasque-Lapiste and Larribar-Sorhapuru. The official address retained in the Merimée base, however, remains that of Béhasque-Lapiste, confirming its territorial anchor in this commune.

The available data do not specify the conditions for access or openness to the public. No information is provided on associated services such as guided tours or tourist facilities. Sources are limited to administrative and geographic descriptions, without details of archaeological excavations or any discoveries made on the site.

In Protohistory, fortified camps such as Sardasse often served as refuges or strategic checkpoints for local communities. In the Pyrénées-Atlantiques, this period was marked by a tribal social organization, where fortifications played a key role in defending territories and resources. These structures also reflect cultural exchanges and tensions between human groups before Romanization.

The listing of the camp as Historic Monuments in 1981 attests to its heritage value, although the accessible archives do not detail the precise criteria for this protection. The reference to cadastral parcels (ZD 28 to 36) suggests a clear delimitation of the protected perimeter, without explicit documentation of dimensions or conservation status.

The sources cited (Monumentum, Merimée base) indicate partial knowledge of the site, with gaps in its detailed history or specific use. The lack of data on recent excavations or discovered artifacts limits the current understanding of this monument, which remains primarily an architectural testimony of the Regional Protohistory.

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