Great Dune of Pilat hosts archaeology visits on 3 October
Published on 09/27/2026 at 15:14 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Great Dune of Pilat (Grande Dune du Pilat) in La Teste-de-Buch is hosting a new archaeological excavation campaign, officially launched on 23 September 2026. The research runs until 9 October 2026 and gives visitors a scheduled opportunity to see the work behind the protected landscape.
Archaeological excavation campaign continues until 9 October
The campaign began on 21 September 2026 and is examining a buried forest soil layer known as paleosol number 2. The official site says the layer dates from the end of the Bronze Age to the beginning of the Second Iron Age, between 1000 and 500 BC.
The work is being carried out to document traces threatened by coastal erosion. Researchers are studying evidence that includes hearths, post holes, salt production areas, pottery and wood preserved in peat. The 23 September launch brought together the site manager, the Conservatoire du littoral, regional heritage officials, La Teste-de-Buch and the GRAPBA archaeological association linked to the Ausonius laboratory, as described in the official launch report.
How the excavation connects the dune with coastal history
The excavation concerns land owned by the Conservatoire du littoral and operates under authorisation from the French Ministry of Culture. Its subject is not an isolated find: the buried layer records earlier human activity on the Aquitaine coast beneath the moving sand.
That link between erosion and archaeology gives the current campaign a direct connection to the landscape visitors see. The site manager describes the operation as a race to record remains before natural processes expose and damage them, while the excavation also places the area within the wider archaeological history of Gironde and the Landes de Gascogne.
A small exhibition at the reception area adds a public-facing dimension to the campaign. It presents the daily life of people who occupied the coast over several millennia, making the archaeology visible even though the active work area itself is restricted. The campaign details and visitor arrangements are published by the site manager.
Visiting Great Dune of Pilat: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The excavation campaign runs from 21 September to 9 October 2026. Visits with archaeologists are scheduled for 26 September and 3 October 2026.
- The excavation zones are not open for independent access. They are marked with stakes and tape, and visitors must remain at least 20 metres from the moving excavator.
- The public exhibition is in the exhibition cabin at the reception area, Route de Biscarrosse, Pyla-sur-Mer, within La Teste-de-Buch. The site manager identifies the cabin as the venue for the archaeology display.
- The landscape combines exposed sand, a rising dune and a working beach area. Visitors should follow the marked boundaries and avoid the excavator route between excavation areas.
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Frequently asked questions about Great Dune of Pilat
When does the archaeological excavation campaign take place at Great Dune of Pilat?
The campaign runs from 21 September to 9 October 2026. The site was officially launched on 23 September 2026.
What can visitors see at Great Dune of Pilat?
Visitors can attend scheduled excavation visits on 26 September and 3 October 2026, and see an archaeology exhibition at the reception area.
Where is Great Dune of Pilat and how do you get there?
The reception area is on Route de Biscarrosse in Pyla-sur-Mer, within La Teste-de-Buch, France.
