Type of site:
Interpretation center
Place of location: On the eastern boundary of the Department, between the towns of Lannemezan and Saint-Gaudens.
Village/Town: Aventignan
Municipality: Aventignan (Aventignan)
Region: Occitanie
State: France
Telephone: (+33) (0) 562 988 150
Website: http://www.grottes-isturitz.com/
E-mail: grottes.isturitz@mail.com
Natural Environment:
Gargas Caves are located on the side of a hill between the towns of Aventignan and Tibiran, in the foothills of the Pyrenees, and opposite the Lannemezan plateau. They form part of a karst with numerous cave systems. The tree-covered massif of Monteil dominates the valley of the River Neste, 2km upstream of its confluence with the River Garonne.
Archaeological evidences in the site:
Many archaeological sites are known around Gargas. Excavations have documented the human occupation of the area from the Acheulian (Lower Palaeolithic) to the periods of recent Prehistory (Metal Ages). The caves with rock art (Gargas, Tibiran, Gourdan and Labastide) and with occupation deposits (Lortet, Troubat) comprise an important and very significant group of Upper Palaeolithic sites.