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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Duruthy Cave, located in the Landes in New Aquitaine, is a rock shelter classified as a historical monument since 1962. Occupied with Magdalenian, Azilian, then Bronze Age and Chalcolithic, it has delivered exceptional human remains, including a burial associated with bear teeth and cave lion teeth, some perforated or engraved. These discoveries suggest complex funeral and symbolic practices among the prehistoric populations of the Pyrenees.

The site was discovered in 1873 by Louis Lartet, who conducted excavations with Gatien Chaplain-Duparc in 1874. The research revealed a rich stratigraphy, including dated layers of the Middle Magdalenian and ornamental objects such as an engraved wand representing a leporid. The collections from the excavations are now distributed among several museums, including those in Le Mans, Saint-Germain-en-Laye and the Abbey of Arthous.

The Duruthy Cave is part of a larger archaeological complex, including Dufaure, Grand Pastou and Petit Pastou shelters, all located nearby on the Pastou cliff, on the right bank of the Oloron Gave. These sites have provided remarkable lithic and bone furniture, showing continuous human occupation over several millennia. Above the cave, the protohistoric oppidum of Larroque attests to a subsequent occupation of the site.

Excavations also revealed traces of daily life, such as fireplaces, flint tools and animal bones, providing insight into the livelihoods of prehistoric groups. The presence of bear and lion canines, probably used as trimmings, underscores the symbolic importance of these animals in higher Paleolithic cultures.

The site was re-examined in the 21st century, notably by François-Xavier Chauvière, who reviewed Duruthy's furniture in 2001. This work clarified the chronology of occupations and refined the interpretation of remains, particularly those related to the "Sorde 1" burial. The cave remains a major site for understanding the cultural transitions between Paleolithic and later periods in southwestern France.

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