Musée Dubalen

The Musée Dubalen, nestled in the charming town of Mont-de-Marsan in southwestern France, is a hidden gem for history enthusiasts and curious travelers alike. Established in 1886, this municipal museum of prehistoric archaeology offers a fascinating glimpse into the ancient past, thanks to the extensive collection donated by Pierre-Eudoxe Dubalen. Housed in a beautifully preserved Romanesque house since 1968, the museum stands as a testament to the rich cultural heritage of the Landes department.

The Origins of Musée Dubalen

The story of the Musée Dubalen begins in 1885 when Pierre-Eudoxe Dubalen, a passionate archaeologist and naturalist, generously donated his impressive collection of archaeological finds to the city of Mont-de-Marsan. The following year, the city established a municipal museum within a room of the local theater, with Dubalen himself serving as its first curator. Initially, the museum's collection included not only archaeological artifacts but also natural history specimens, such as taxidermied animals, shells, and fossils.

Over the years, the museum's collection grew significantly, thanks to Dubalen's relentless fieldwork and acquisitions. He conducted numerous excavations and explorations across the region, unearthing treasures from sites like Banos, Benquet, and the Dufaure shelter in Sorde-l'Abbaye. These efforts, along with the acquisition of mineralogy and paleontology collections from André-Eugène Jacquot and Félix-Victor Raullin, greatly enriched the museum's holdings.

A New Home in the Romanesque House

By the early 20th century, the museum had outgrown its original location in the theater. In 1901, it was relocated to the newly constructed Pascal-Duprat Palace, which later became Mont-de-Marsan's town hall. The museum occupied the second floor of this building, where it remained for several decades. During this period, the museum's collection continued to expand, with notable contributions from Dubalen and subsequent curators.

In 1968, the museum found its current home in one of Mont-de-Marsan's Romanesque houses, located near the Lacataye keep. This medieval stone building, with its distinctive architectural features, provides a fitting backdrop for the museum's prehistoric treasures. The house itself is an artifact of historical significance, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the museum experience.

Exploring the Collections

The Musée Dubalen's collection is a treasure trove of prehistoric artifacts, offering a comprehensive overview of the region's ancient history. The collection includes over 5,000 flint tools from more than 100 different localities, as well as hundreds of faunal remains, carved and engraved bones, and funerary urns. These artifacts span several prehistoric periods, from the Paleolithic to the Iron Age.

The Neolithic period is well-represented, with a variety of polished stone axes, including a notable perforated double-headed axe and a spheroidal object from Benquet. The museum also boasts an impressive array of Upper Paleolithic items, such as bone tools, flint implements, and engraved plaques. A highlight of this collection is the series of artifacts from Brassempouy, which includes 131 pieces of bone industry and several Gravettian points.

The Iron Age collection is particularly rich, featuring numerous funerary urns unearthed from tumulus excavations in the southern Landes region. The museum also houses artifacts from the antiquity period, including rotary grain mills, ceramics, and lamps.

The Challenges and Future of Musée Dubalen

Despite its rich collection, the Musée Dubalen has faced numerous challenges over the years. The museum was closed for the first time in 1970, and its collections were moved to temporary storage locations while awaiting a new permanent home. In 1972, the museum was reopened in its current Romanesque house, but issues with conservation and space continued to plague the institution.

In the early 1990s, the museum was closed once again for safety reasons, and its archaeological collections were relegated to the reserves of the Lacataye keep, which houses the Despiau-Wlérick Museum. Although the Musée Dubalen's collections received renewed interest during the Time of Archaeology events in 2011-2012, many of its treasures remain hidden from public view.

Today, the Musée Dubalen is largely considered an annex of the Despiau-Wlérick Museum, with only a few of its archaeological artifacts displayed online. However, there is hope that the ongoing renovations at the Despiau-Wlérick Museum, scheduled for completion in 2024, will provide an opportunity to showcase the Musée Dubalen's collections once more.

In conclusion, the Musée Dubalen in Mont-de-Marsan is a captivating destination for anyone interested in prehistoric archaeology and the rich history of the Landes region. Its extensive collection, housed in a historic Romanesque building, offers a unique window into the ancient past. Despite the challenges it has faced, the museum remains a testament to the enduring legacy of Pierre-Eudoxe Dubalen and his dedication to preserving the region's heritage.