Isturitz, Saint-Martin-d’Arberoue – Les grottes ornées de la colline de Gaztelu : Isturitz et Oxocelhaya

Le projet pluridisciplinaire développé dans la colline de Gaztelu depuis 2011 a comme but l’étude de l’art pariétal et des autres vestiges paléolithiques sur les parois ainsi que leur relation avec l’occupation du site et, de manière indirecte, avec la formation et la transformation du karst de la colline elle-même. Après une prise de contact au cours de la première campagne, en 2012, des travaux de documentation de l’art pariétal et des dépôts des parois du niveau supérieur d’Isturitz ont ét..

Le pilier gravé de la grotte d’Isturitz (Saint-Martin-d’Arberoue, Pyrénées-Atlantiques) : cent ans après sa découverte

In this paper we present a new vision of the decorated pillar from Isturitz (Pyrénées-Atlantiques, France), which includes a technical and formal description and comparison with other similar rock art pieces and discussion of the stratigraphic context in relation to the occupation floor of the hall of the cave (Grande Salle). The Isturitz cave is one of the caves in the hill of Gaztelu (communes of Isturitz and Saint-Martin-d’Arberoue), and a major site for European prehistory. Archaeological research is concentrated in the caves of Isturitz, Oxocelhaya-Hariztoya and Erberua. They belong to a larger network at the crossroads between the classical areas of Palaeolithic parietal art : Périgord, Ariège and the Cantabrian area. During the last few years, research has been reactivated in this transit area. Given the geographic situation of Isturitz, good knowledge of the engravings from the Grande Salle is necessary to understand its role is this significant area. The rock art of Isturitz cave was discovered in 1912, in the early excavations by E. Passemard, and research was extended until 1922. That work uncovered a stalagmite pillar in the central area of the Grande Salle, where several animal figures were identified but not published in detail. A much later revision, written by I. Barandiarán and G. Laplace in 1974 — but only published in 1984 — has another reading of all the parietal representations, but reduces very drastically the number of figures compared with those identified by the discoverer. In 2010, a new research team headed by D. Garate resumed study of the parietal art in the cavity, including a review of this engraved pillar which is now at a certain height from the ground due to the tunnel giving access to the lower level (Oxocelhaya), excavated in 1953. For this reason, in 2012 we installed scaffolding that allowed us direct access to the engravings and the possibility of developing the study in appropriate conditions. The work included prospecting the pillar, identifying the figures, technical and formal analysis, restitution through drawings and other graphic documentation (photography, photogrammetry and laser scanner). The results of the study show that the decorated pillar is composed of a fairly significant number of figures that correspond roughly to those identified with very little accuracy by E. Passemard (around twenty animals) and, in any case, many more than the half dozen published by I. Barandiaran and G. Laplace. More specifically, 18 engraved and sculpted figures have been recognized including two reindeer (an adult and a young one), two deer (without heads), two bovidae, two birds (one doubtful), a horse, a glutton, a fish, a sign (a compartmentalized rectangle), three indeterminate animals and three groups of lines. From a technological point of view, the left area of the panel is also much more elaborate, using different levels in the rock to highlight the volume of the figures. This part it is also the best preserved, allowing a more detailed analysis of the grooves. The rest of the engraved figures appear unfinished or, at least, were carried out with a lesser degree of detail. Concerning the chronological information, the stratigraphic data from the E. Passemard excavations does not enable a relationship to be established between the ‘ manual field’ of the representations and the Magdalenian, Solutrean or Gravettian levels and the degree of accuracy in the reconstruction of the deposit covering the pillar is too low. Formal comparisons allow the figures of the engraved pillar to be related to the Middle Magdalenian level of the Grande Salle, while the technology and features of the pillar — which would have been illuminated by daylight — make it possible to propose a relationship with the Magdalenian rockshelters of Périgord and Poitou-Charente, of which Isturitz would be the southernmost example.Dans cette étude, nous présentons une vision renouvelée du pilier orné de la grotte d’Isturitz (Pyrénées-Atlantiques) qui comprend une description technique et formelle, ainsi que la comparaison avec d’autres ensembles semblables et une discussion sur le contexte stratigraphique en rapport avec le sol d’occupation de la Grande Salle de la grotte. L’art pariétal de la grotte d’Isturitz a été découvert en 1912, au début des fouilles archéologiques que E. Passemard a poursuivi jusqu’en 1922. Ces travaux ont mis au jour un pilier stalagmitique dans la partie centrale de la Grande Salle, sur lequel plusieurs figures animales vont être identifiées mais qui n’ont pourtant, pas été publiées en détail. Une révision très postérieure, réalisée par G. Laplace et I. Barandiarán en 1974, présente une lecture de l’ensemble des motifs pariétaux, mais réduit très drastiquement la quantité de figures par rapport à celles identifiées par l’inventeur. En 2010, une nouvelle équipe de recherche dirigée par D. Garate reprend l’étude de l’art pariétal de la cavité, incluant la révision du pilier gravé qui se trouve actuellement à une certaine hauteur par rapport au sol en raison du tunnel d’accès au niveau inférieur (Oxocelhaya) creusé en 1953. Pour cette raison, nous avons installé en 2012 un échafaudage qui nous a permis l’accès direct aux gravures et la possibilité de développer l’étude dans de bonnes conditions. Les travaux ont inclus la prospection du pilier, l’identification des figures, l’analyse technique et formelle, la restitution au moyen de relevés et la documentation graphique (photographie, photogrammétrie et scanner laser). Les résultats de l’étude montrent que le pilier orné est composé d’un nombre assez significatif de motifs qui correspondent, grosso modo, à ceux qui avaient été identifiés avec très peu de précision par E. Passemard et qui, en tout cas, sont plus nombreux que ceux relevés par G. Laplace et I. Barandiarán. Plus spécifiquement, dix-huit motifs gravés ont été identifiés dont deux rennes, deux cervidés, deux bovidés, deux oiseaux, un cheval, un glouton, un poisson, un signe, trois animaux indéterminés et trois ensembles de traits. Du point de vue technologique, le secteur gauche du panneau est beaucoup plus élaboré et également mieux conservé. Les autres figures gravées semblent inachevées ou du moins, ont été réalisées avec un moindre degré de détails. D’un point de vue chronoculturel, les données stratigraphiques issues des fouilles d’E. Passemard ne permettent pas d’établir une relation entre le champ manuel et les niveaux magdaléniens, solutréen ou gravettiens. Les comparaisons formelles mettent en relation les figurations du pilier gravé avec les plaquettes ornées du niveau Magdalénien moyen de la Grande Salle, tandis que la technique et les caractéristiques du pilier – qui aurait été éclairé par la lumière du jour – alimentent des discussions sur la relation de cet ensemble avec les abris sous roche de chronologie magdalénienne du Périgord et de Poitou-Charentes, dont Isturitz serait l’exemple le plus méridional.Garate Maidagan Diego, Rivero Olivia, Labarge Aude, Normand Christian. Le pilier gravé de la grotte d’Isturitz (Saint-Martin-d’Arberoue, Pyrénées-Atlantiques) : cent ans après sa découverte. In: Bulletin de la Société préhistorique française, tome 113, n°3, 2016. pp. 501-522

The Cave of Isturitz (West Pyrenees, France): One Century of Research in Paleolithic Parietal Art

The cave of Isturitz is one of the most important archaeological sites of the prehistory of Western Europe. Human occupations followed each other in the cavity from at least the Middle Paleolithic to the Roman age. In 1913, Passermard started archaeological excavations there, and a calcite pillar was discovered next to the original entrance that was sculpted with a dozen of animal representations. In this excavation, the Magdalenian levels yielded a considerable quantity of portable art objects. In the last few years, several workers have resumed the study of those pieces. Since 2011, we have created a research team for the study of the parietal figures of the cave, as well as other elements, for example the objects embedded in the walls. We present here our first results, which improve in the understanding of the artistic activities of Upper Palaeolithic peoples by shedding light at the art analyzed in Isturitz

Archaic to Early Aurignacian in the Grotte d'Isturitz (Pyrénées-Atlantiques, France): Discontinuity or Gradual Change?

International audienc

Isturitz, Oxocelhaya and Erberua Caves (Pyrénées-Atlantiques, France): geoarchaeological studies

International audienceIsturitz, Oxocelhaya and Erberua Caves are located in the foothills of the western Pyrenees. The landscape is hilly and is crossed by a wide valley with a small river, the Arberoue. Downstream, the river disappears into the limestone of Gaztelu Hill: this underground flow created the Erberua Cave. Above this natural tunnel we observe three fossil staged caves: Oxocelhaya, Isturitz and Rocafort. The Gaztelu Caves provide a major European Prehistoric archaeological site. The first recorded data came from the Isturitz Cave (1895), then from the Oxocelhaya Cave (1929) and finally from the Erberua Cave (1973) giving evidence of human occupation during the Mid-Upper Palaeolithic period. These archaeological remains are not uniformly distributed. In Erberua, some of the paintings suggest a Gravettian use of the cave but the works date from the Magdalenian time (Middle and/or Upper). In Oxocelhaya Cave, the settlement may date from Aurignacian time but the art works generally date from the Magdalenian time. In Isturitz Cave, the importance and diversity of the Aurignacian objects are exceptional and prove the permanent nature of this settlement where numerous activities took place. Also during the Gravettian time, an enormous quantity of material is proof of a very important human presence. During theMiddle Magdalenian time, the activities are marked in particular by hundreds of portable art, this is why this cave has been described as one of the most important aggregation sites of the Pyrenees. The research team is multidisciplinary and was established in 2011 around twelve main objectives. Our contribution concerns the first two stages and includes speleologists, geologists and karstologists. The first stage was the charting of the numerous listed activities and the second stage will analyze their organization according to the topographic, geological and karstologic specificities of the Gaztelu Hill

Isturitz, Oxocelhaya and Erberua Caves (Pyrénées-Atlantiques, France): geoarchaeological studies

Isturitz, Oxocelhaya and Erberua Caves are located in the foothills of the western Pyrenees. The landscape is hilly and is crossed by a wide valley with a small river, the Arberoue. Downstream, the river disappears into the limestone of Gaztelu Hill: this underground flow created the Erberua Cave. Above this natural tunnel we observe three fossil staged caves: Oxocelhaya, Isturitz and Rocafort. The Gaztelu Caves provide a major European Prehistoric archaeological site. The first recorded data came from the Isturitz Cave (1895), then from the Oxocelhaya Cave (1929) and finally from the Erberua Cave (1973) giving evidence of human occupation during the Mid-Upper Palaeolithic period. These archaeological remains are not uniformly distributed. In Erberua, some of the paintings suggest a Gravettian use of the cave but the works date from the Magdalenian time (Middle and/or Upper). In Oxocelhaya Cave, the settlement may date from Aurignacian time but the art works generally date from the Magdalenian time. In Isturitz Cave, the importance and diversity of the Aurignacian objects are exceptional and prove the permanent nature of this settlement where numerous activities took place. Also during the Gravettian time, an enormous quantity of material is proof of a very important human presence. During theMiddle Magdalenian time, the activities are marked in particular by hundreds of portable art, this is why this cave has been described as one of the most important aggregation sites of the Pyrenees. The research team is multidisciplinary and was established in 2011 around twelve main objectives. Our contribution concerns the first two stages and includes speleologists, geologists and karstologists. The first stage was the charting of the numerous listed activities and the second stage will analyze their organization according to the topographic, geological and karstologic specificities of the Gaztelu Hill

Isturitz, Oxocelhaya and Erberua Caves (Pyrénées-Atlantiques, France): geoarchaeological studies

International audienceIsturitz, Oxocelhaya and Erberua Caves are located in the foothills of the western Pyrenees. The landscape is hilly and is crossed by a wide valley with a small river, the Arberoue. Downstream, the river disappears into the limestone of Gaztelu Hill: this underground flow created the Erberua Cave. Above this natural tunnel we observe three fossil staged caves: Oxocelhaya, Isturitz and Rocafort. The Gaztelu Caves provide a major European Prehistoric archaeological site. The first recorded data came from the Isturitz Cave (1895), then from the Oxocelhaya Cave (1929) and finally from the Erberua Cave (1973) giving evidence of human occupation during the Mid-Upper Palaeolithic period. These archaeological remains are not uniformly distributed. In Erberua, some of the paintings suggest a Gravettian use of the cave but the works date from the Magdalenian time (Middle and/or Upper). In Oxocelhaya Cave, the settlement may date from Aurignacian time but the art works generally date from the Magdalenian time. In Isturitz Cave, the importance and diversity of the Aurignacian objects are exceptional and prove the permanent nature of this settlement where numerous activities took place. Also during the Gravettian time, an enormous quantity of material is proof of a very important human presence. During theMiddle Magdalenian time, the activities are marked in particular by hundreds of portable art, this is why this cave has been described as one of the most important aggregation sites of the Pyrenees. The research team is multidisciplinary and was established in 2011 around twelve main objectives. Our contribution concerns the first two stages and includes speleologists, geologists and karstologists. The first stage was the charting of the numerous listed activities and the second stage will analyze their organization according to the topographic, geological and karstologic specificities of the Gaztelu Hill

Isturitz, Oxocelhaya and Erberua Caves (Pyrénées-Atlantiques, France): geoarchaeological studies

International audienceIsturitz, Oxocelhaya and Erberua Caves are located in the foothills of the western Pyrenees. The landscape is hilly and is crossed by a wide valley with a small river, the Arberoue. Downstream, the river disappears into the limestone of Gaztelu Hill: this underground flow created the Erberua Cave. Above this natural tunnel we observe three fossil staged caves: Oxocelhaya, Isturitz and Rocafort. The Gaztelu Caves provide a major European Prehistoric archaeological site. The first recorded data came from the Isturitz Cave (1895), then from the Oxocelhaya Cave (1929) and finally from the Erberua Cave (1973) giving evidence of human occupation during the Mid-Upper Palaeolithic period. These archaeological remains are not uniformly distributed. In Erberua, some of the paintings suggest a Gravettian use of the cave but the works date from the Magdalenian time (Middle and/or Upper). In Oxocelhaya Cave, the settlement may date from Aurignacian time but the art works generally date from the Magdalenian time. In Isturitz Cave, the importance and diversity of the Aurignacian objects are exceptional and prove the permanent nature of this settlement where numerous activities took place. Also during the Gravettian time, an enormous quantity of material is proof of a very important human presence. During theMiddle Magdalenian time, the activities are marked in particular by hundreds of portable art, this is why this cave has been described as one of the most important aggregation sites of the Pyrenees. The research team is multidisciplinary and was established in 2011 around twelve main objectives. Our contribution concerns the first two stages and includes speleologists, geologists and karstologists. The first stage was the charting of the numerous listed activities and the second stage will analyze their organization according to the topographic, geological and karstologic specificities of the Gaztelu Hill