Blandas

Blandas is a commune in the Gard department in southern France. It is known for its proximity to the Cirque de Navacelles and the town encompasses one of the principal overlooks on the Cirque. It is also known for its exceptional megalithic sites. It is included in the UNESCO world heritage site "The Causses and the Cévennes, Mediterranean agro-pastoral Cultural Landscape"[2][3]

Blandas
Commune
Part of the Rigalderie stone circle in Blandas
Coat of arms
Location of Blandas
Blandas Blandas
Coordinates: 43°54′49″N 3°30′49″E
Country	France
Region	Occitanie
Department	Gard
Arrondissement	Le Vigan
Canton	Le Vigan
Intercommunality	Pays Viganais
Government
• Mayor (2020–2026)	Marc Weller
Area ^1	37.46 km^2 (14.46 sq mi)
Population  (2017-01-01)[1]	135
• Density	3.6/km^2 (9.3/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code	30040 /30770
Elevation	280–953 m (919–3,127 ft) (avg. 650 m or 2,130 ft)
^1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km^2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Population

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±%
1881	528	—
1891	506	−4.2%
1901	420	−17.0%
1911	355	−15.5%
1921	268	−24.5%
1931	268	+0.0%
1936	227	−15.3%
1954	196	−13.7%
1962	172	−12.2%
1968	141	−18.0%
1975	115	−18.4%
1982	116	+0.9%
1990	112	−3.4%
1999	106	−5.4%
2008	128	+20.8%

History

Prehistoric Finds

La grotte des Pins

In May 1967 a team of speleologues attempted to enlarge a natural opening exposed by erosion. Their work exposed a large hidden room 5m high and on the floor of the room they found fragments of ceramics. Further exploration uncovered tools, objects, and much scattered charcoal, up to 60 cm thick in places possibly from prehistoric torches. Theories at the time suggested that the cave served as a cellar or storage, rather than a habitation, since a lack of air circulation made hearth fires difficult.[4]

Baume du Roc du Midi

In 1979 at Baume du Roc du Midi, a cave which opens out from the cliff on the edge of the causse de Blandas at a lookout with a view over the Cirque de Navacelles, archeologists discovered a walled part of the cave, closed since the Middle Ages, but inhabited continuously from prehistory into protohistoric times. Inside the walled portion, many objects including two copper daggers with serrated blades, a bronze axe, a riveted bronze dagger, bronze sconces, spear-tips, and many other Bronze Age objects[5]

La Baumelle

A discovery was made in 2009[6] by speleologists in a prehistoric cave which had been blocked for over 5000 years. On August 10, 2009, speleologists, along with Laurent Bruxelles and Philippe Galant, from Institut national de Recherches archéologiques préventives, began a 10-day exploration of the find. The entrance was blocked by a menhir or stele. This sandstone monolith with engraved surface had been moved from a deposit found at Montdardier 5–6 km from the cave. Prehistoric remains were discovered: skulls, some covered in calcite, pieces of water-collecting vessels, ceramic shards, and a furnished hallway.[7]

Megaliths

see also Mégalithes du causse de Blandas (fr)

Monument	Town	Note	Protection	Coordinates	Photo
Cromlech de Lacam de Peyrarines	Blandas	A prehistoric cromlech of 120m in diameter, including 50 standing stones of up to 1.8m high with a standing center menhir. Considered by many to be among the most impressive in Europe.[8][9]		43.9261°N 3.5306°E
Cromlech de Lacam de la Rigalderie	Blandas	A cromlech of approximately 90m in diameter with 36 stones, 20 of which are still upright, but lacking a central pillar. One menhir stands 2.5m high[10]		43.9272°N 3.4914°E
Cromlech de Lacam de Rogues	Blandas			43.8942°N 3.5638°E
Dolmen d'Arques	Blandas			43.9377°N 3.5032°E
Dolmen de Barral	Blandas			43.9127°N 3.5541°E
Dolmen de la Borie d'Arre	Blandas			43.8936°N 3.5367°E
Dolmen de Planas	Blandas			43.9282°N 3.5366°E
Dolmen de Regos	Blandas			43.9207°N 3.5427°E
Dolmen du Château d'Assas	Blandas			43.9115°N 3.5374°E
Menhir d'Avernat	Blandas			43.9357°N 3.4934°E
Menhir des Combes	Blandas			43.9359°N 3.4958°E
Menhir de Planas	Blandas	other name Menhir du Serre de la Gleisa		43.9266°N 3.5391°E
Menhir du Sotch des Genièvres	Blandas			43.9262°N 3.5215°E
Menhirs de Landre	Blandas	3 menhirs		43.9365°N 3.5162°E
Menhirs du Travers des Noyers	Blandas	2 menhirs		43.9006°N 3.5207°E

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map of Megaliths in Blandas (Gard), France

See also

• Communes of the Gard department
• Causse de Blandas
• Cirque de Navacelles

References

1. "Populations légales 2017". INSEE. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
2. Centre, UNESCO World Heritage. "The Causses and the Cévennes, Mediterranean agro-pastoral Cultural Landscape". UNESCO World Heritage Centre.
3. "Accueil". Bienvenue à Blandas !.
4. J.-L. Roudil et P. Vincent (1972). "La grotte des Pins (Blandas, Gard)". Bulletin de la Société préhistorique française (Etudes et Travaux, fascicule 2). 69. pp. 570–583.
5. Documents préhistoriques de la grotte du Roc du Midi (Blandas, Gard) (article) J.-L. Roudil;P. Vincent; Bulletin de la Société préhistorique française Year 1974 vol71 n7 pp.203-209
6. "Gard. La grotte aux miracles". ladepeche.fr.
7. Galant, Philippe & Villemejeanne, Richard & Etienne, Aurélien & Bruxelles, Laurent & Boschi, Jean-Yves. (2012). 2015 - Découverte de deux stèles en contexte Néolithique final sur le site de la Baumelle à Blandas (Gard).
8. https://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=6334839
9. "Cromlech de Perrarines".
10. https://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=6334837