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Blandas
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 / 43.9136°N 3.5136°E
Country	France
Region	Occitania
Department	Gard
Arrondissement	Le Vigan
Canton	Le Vigan
Intercommunality	Pays Viganais
Government
• Mayor (2020–2026)	Marc Weller
Area 1	37.46 km2 (14.46 sq mi)
Population (2021)	126
• Density	3.4/km2 (8.7/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 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

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"^[3]^[4]

Population

Historical population
Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1968	141	—
1975	115	−2.87%
1982	116	+0.12%
1990	112	−0.44%
1999	106	−0.61%
2009	128	+1.90%
2014	144	+2.38%
2020	127	−2.07%
Source: INSEE^[5]

History

Prehistoric Finds

La grotte des Pins

In May 1967 a team of speleologists 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.^[6]

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^[7]

La Baumelle

A discovery was made in 2009^[8] 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.^[9]

Megaliths

Monument	Town	Note	Coordinates
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.^[10]^[11]	43°55′34″N 3°31′50″E / 43.9261°N 3.5306°E / 43.9261; 3.5306 (Cromlech de Lacam de Peyrarines)
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^[12]	43°55′38″N 3°29′29″E / 43.9272°N 3.4914°E / 43.9272; 3.4914
Cromlech de Lacam de Rogues	Blandas		43°53′39″N 3°33′50″E / 43.8942°N 3.5638°E / 43.8942; 3.5638 (Cromlech de Lacam de Rogues)
Dolmen d'Arques	Blandas		43°56′16″N 3°30′12″E / 43.9377°N 3.5032°E / 43.9377; 3.5032 (Dolmen d'Arques)
Dolmen de Barral	Blandas		43°54′46″N 3°33′15″E / 43.9127°N 3.5541°E / 43.9127; 3.5541 (Dolmen de Barral)
Dolmen de la Borie d'Arre	Blandas		43°53′37″N 3°32′12″E / 43.8936°N 3.5367°E / 43.8936; 3.5367 (Dolmen de la Borie d'Arre)
Dolmen de Planas	Blandas		43°55′42″N 3°32′12″E / 43.9282°N 3.5366°E / 43.9282; 3.5366 (Dolmen de Planas)
Dolmen de Regos	Blandas		43°55′15″N 3°32′34″E / 43.9207°N 3.5427°E / 43.9207; 3.5427 (Dolmen de Regos)
Dolmen du Château d'Assas	Blandas		43°54′41″N 3°32′15″E / 43.9115°N 3.5374°E / 43.9115; 3.5374 (Dolmen du Château d'Assas)
Menhir d'Avernat	Blandas		43°56′09″N 3°29′36″E / 43.9357°N 3.4934°E / 43.9357; 3.4934 (Menhirs d'Avernat)
Menhir des Combes	Blandas		43°56′09″N 3°29′45″E / 43.9359°N 3.4958°E / 43.9359; 3.4958 (Menhir des Combes)
Menhir de Planas	Blandas	other name Menhir du Serre de la Gleisa	43°55′36″N 3°32′21″E / 43.9266°N 3.5391°E / 43.9266; 3.5391 (Menhir de Planas)
Menhir du Sotch des Genièvres	Blandas		43°55′34″N 3°31′17″E / 43.9262°N 3.5215°E / 43.9262; 3.5215 (Menhir du Sotch des Genièvres)
Menhirs de Landre	Blandas	3 menhirs	43°56′11″N 3°30′58″E / 43.9365°N 3.5162°E / 43.9365; 3.5162 (Menhir de Landre)
Menhirs du Travers des Noyers	Blandas	2 menhirs	43°54′02″N 3°31′15″E / 43.9006°N 3.5207°E / 43.9006; 3.5207 (Menhir du Travers des Noyers)

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map of Megaliths in Blandas (Gard), France

References

^ "Répertoire national des élus: les maires" (in French). data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises. 13 September 2022.
^ "Populations légales 2021" (in French). The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 28 December 2023.
^ Centre, UNESCO World Heritage. "The Causses and the Cévennes, Mediterranean agro-pastoral Cultural Landscape". UNESCO World Heritage Centre.
^ "Accueil". Bienvenue à Blandas !.
^ Population en historique depuis 1968, INSEE
^ J.-L. Roudil et P. Vincent (1972). "La grotte des Pins (Blandas, Gard)". Bulletin de la Société préhistorique française (Etudes et Travaux, fascicule 2). Vol. 69. pp. 570–583.
^ 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
^ "Gard. La grotte aux miracles". ladepeche.fr.
^ 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).
^ "The Megalithic Portal: Lacam de Peyrarines - Stone Circle in France in Languedoc:Gard (30)". 11 April 2006. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
^ "Cromlech de Perrarines".
^ "The Megalithic Portal: Lacam de la Rigalderie - Stone Circle in France in Languedoc:Gard (30)". 20 December 2009. Retrieved 17 July 2024.