Period of creation of rock art Protohistoire (âges du bronze et du fer) (≈ 1500 av. J.-C.)
Unique North-Pyrenean example of schematic Levantin art.
7 mars 1997
Registration as Historic Monument
Registration as Historic Monument 7 mars 1997 (≈ 1997)
Protection of the cave and its basement.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Prehistoric cave, including subsoil (cad. A 137): registration by order of 7 March 1997
Origin and history
The Gandon-Lassus Shelter, located in Aydius in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques, is a remarkable prehistoric site of the Protohistory. This monument is distinguished by a panel decorated with red ochre, representing a filiform anthropomorphic male silhouette with arms and legs apart, as well as punctuations. These works are the only well-known example of art of the Levantine rock art in the north of the Pyrenees, dated the ages of bronze and iron.
The site was recognized for its archaeological importance, leading to its registration as a Historical Monument by order of 7 March 1997. This protection covers not only the cave itself, but also its basement, highlighting the heritage value of the entire site. The precise location of the shelter, although documented, remains approximate, with an accuracy assessed as fair according to the available data.
The rock art present in the Gandon-Lassus shelter offers a rare testimony to the artistic and cultural practices of protohistoric societies in this region. The schematic, though simple, representations reveal aspects of the beliefs or symbolic expressions of these populations. This site is thus part of a wider context of European parietal art, while presenting unique local peculiarities.
The Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, and especially the Pyrénées-Atlantiques, is rich in prehistoric and protohistoric remains. These sites, such as the Gandon-Lassus Shelter, provide a better understanding of the lifestyles, artistic techniques and cultural exchanges of the communities that occupied these territories several millennia ago. Their preservation is essential for archaeological research and the transmission of this heritage to future generations.
