Occupation and sealing of the cave Néolithique (vers 3000-2000 av. J.-C.) (≈ 2500 av. J.-C.)
Stele-menhir blocking the entrance, funeral remains.
2009
Rediscovered by speleologists
Rediscovered by speleologists 2009 (≈ 2009)
Opening after 5,000 years of obstruction.
14 décembre 2016
Historical monument classification
Historical monument classification 14 décembre 2016 (≈ 2016)
Total protection of the cave and its environment.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
The cave in its entirety, and the western part of Parcel No. 41 which contains it in its bottom (Box B 41): classification by order of 14 December 2016
Key figures
Information non disponible - No historical character identified
Discoverers (speleologists, 2009) are not named.
Origin and history
The Blandas Baumelles Cave is a major archaeological site discovered in 2009 by speleologists. Its entrance, blocked for about 5,000 years by a stone-menhir in sandstone transported from Montdardier (5-6 km), preserved exceptional remains of Neolithic. Inside, human skulls partially covered with calcite, ceramic teasses, pieces of vases and an arranged corridor attest to an ancient occupation and funeral or ritual practices.
The stele-menhir, of a surface worked, was extracted from a local deposit and moved to seal access to the cave. This voluntary blocking suggests a symbolic or sacred meaning, perhaps linked to closed or protective rites. The objects discovered, such as vessels used for water recovery, indicate a practical and ceremonial use of the underground space. These elements make the cave a rare testimony of the Neolithic cultures of the southern causses.
Ranked a historic monument in December 2016, the Baumelles Cave is now fully protected, including part of the sheltering parcel. His study revealed connections with other megalithic sites in the region, such as the numerous dolmens and menhirs of the Blandas causse. The stele is now exposed to the Cevenol Museum of the Vigan, while the site remains an object of study to understand the funeral practices and social organization of the Neolithic in the south of France.
The commune of Blandas, in the Gard en Occitanie department, is marked by a remarkable natural and archaeological heritage. The Blandas causse, classified as a Natura 2000 zone, houses karst formations and unique ecosystems, while the Baumelles Cave illustrates the importance of caves as places of memory and worship for prehistoric communities. This site is part of a larger landscape of megaliths and protohistoric remains, reflecting a continuous human occupation for millennia.
