Historical Monument 13 octobre 1956 (≈ 1956)
Site protection order.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Group of nine cromlechs, on the coast of Gorostiarria, on the west side of Mount Airagarria (Box D 272): by order of 13 October 1956
Origin and history
The group of nine cromlechs of Ascain is a megalithic monument located in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques, on the coast of Gorostiarria, west of Mount Airagarria. These circular stone structures, characteristic of the Protohistory and Iron Age, bear witness to the funeral or ritual practices of the ancient populations of the region. Their availability and number make them a remarkable set for studying local prehistoric cultures.
Filed by order of 13 October 1956, this site belongs today to the municipality of Ascain. The location, although documented (cadastre D 272), remains of an accuracy deemed mediocre (note of 5/10), perhaps reflecting the difficulties in accurately delineating these ancient remains. No information is available on conditions of visit or accessibility of the site.
The area, now integrated into New Aquitaine, was at the time protohistoric a territory marked by agro-pastoral communities. Cromlechs, often associated with burials or places of worship, probably played a central role in the social and spiritual organization of these groups. Their preservation to this day offers a valuable insight into the beliefs and construction techniques of this distant period.
