Archaeology: Bronze Age hillfort filled with treasure unearthed in France may be ‘lost capital city’

A Bronze Age hillfort in France may represent a lost Celtic capital city, archaeologists said after finding treasures there including jewellery, weapons and chariot parts.

The priceless trove of artefacts was unearthed near Gannat, in the Allier department of central France, by researchers from the University of Toulouse–Jean Jaurès.

Excavations revealed a large — 30 hectares in total — fortified settlement which would have sported a double row of ramparts and 20-feet-high stone walls.

The site has yielded hundreds of items thought to have been buried in around 800 BC as part of a religious ritual. Such abundance is rare from French hillforts.

Indeed, it represents one of the richest metal deposits sites from the Bronze Age ever discovered in Europe, experts have said. 

The excavations also represent something of a victory for posterity over looters — who had begun to plunder some of the treasures from the site back in 2017.

During the time of the Gannat Hill Fort, the Allier region had significant economic value due to the navigable Sioule river and local tin deposits for making bronze. 

A Bronze Age hillfort in France may represent a lost Celtic capital city, archaeologists said after finding treasures there (pictured) including jewellery, weapons and chariot parts

The site (pictured) has yielded hundreds of items thought to have been buried in around 800 BC as part of a religious ritual. Such abundance is rare from French hillforts

The site (pictured) has yielded hundreds of items thought to have been buried in around 800 BC as part of a religious ritual. Such abundance is rare from French hillforts

The priceless trove of artefacts was unearthed near Gannat, in the Allier department of central France, by researchers from the University of Toulouse–Jean Jaurès

The priceless trove of artefacts was unearthed near Gannat, in the Allier department of central France, by researchers from the University of Toulouse–Jean Jaurès

The treasure found at the Gannat site was spread across five different deposits — one of which was already being targeted by scavengers, explained team leader and archaeologist Pierre-Yves Milcent of the University of Toulouse–Jean Jaurès.

‘We intervened on this site because there was looting by people equipped with metal detectors who then resell their loot on the internet, where there is a whole parallel market,’ he explained.

‘The excavations are not complete, but we already have around 800 objects, the majority intact.

‘This is also the first time that we have found four intact hoards that we can excavate in the laboratory under the best conditions.

‘Usually it is the illegal detectors who find the deposits and they do not pay attention to the arrangement of the objects, which is catastrophic.’

The archaeologists believe that the deposits — three of which were arranged in vases — may have been buried to form a divine offering.

‘The decorations and symbols of the bronze objects refer to a cult of the sun, which was a very important deity at the time, as in Egypt,’ said Dr Milcent.

‘The choice of objects and arrangement are repeated from one deposit to another: bracelets, neck rings and pendants are placed at the bottom of the vase, axe blades at the top. These repetitions presuppose precise rules, undoubtedly linked to rituals.’

In the middle of each deposit was a layer of sharp objects — weapons like knives, spears and swords in one and gouges and sickles in the other.

Based on their dimensions, the researchers believe that the jewellery items — which also included anklets — were most likely worn by women and children.

A unique element to these deposits came in the form of river pebbles, which appear to have been chosen for inclusion based on their colour — white in one hoard, while red in another.

‘Several of these deposits — those we have found and others that had recently been looted — form a line that extends for 350 metres [1,148 feet], corresponding to one of the limits of the site,’ Dr Milcent added.

‘So the deposits undoubtedly have a close link with rituals for the foundation or abandonment of a habitat,’ Dr Milcent concluded.

Similar deposits have been found in Greece dating back to the same time period. 

The excavations also represent something of a victory for posterity over looters — who had already begun to plunder some of the treasures from the site. Pictured: one of the artefact-bearing vases unearthed from site near Gannat, in central France

The excavations also represent something of a victory for posterity over looters — who had already begun to plunder some of the treasures from the site. Pictured: one of the artefact-bearing vases unearthed from site near Gannat, in central France

The treasure found at the Gannat site (pictured) was spread across five different deposits — one of which was already being targeted by scavengers, explained team leader and archaeologist Pierre-Yves Milcent of the University of Toulouse–Jean Jaurès

The treasure found at the Gannat site (pictured) was spread across five different deposits — one of which was already being targeted by scavengers, explained team leader and archaeologist Pierre-Yves Milcent of the University of Toulouse–Jean Jaurès

'We intervened on this site because there was looting by people equipped with metal detectors who then resell their loot on the internet, where there is a whole parallel market,' Dr Milcent explained. Pictured: some of the artefacts recovered from the Gannat site

‘We intervened on this site because there was looting by people equipped with metal detectors who then resell their loot on the internet, where there is a whole parallel market,’ Dr Milcent explained. Pictured: some of the artefacts recovered from the Gannat site

The artefacts are also helping the researchers to paint a picture of what life might have been like for people living in this Celtic society some 2,800 years ago.

Among the objects unearthed are items linked to farming, tools for manufacturing textiles and ceramics, equipment for wood and metalworking as well as swords and spear points for warriors.

There are clear signs of wealth too — including parts from chariots, harnesses that would have been worn by horses and extravagant jewellery.

The team have also found evidence of long-distance trade in the form of two axe blades identified as having been made in southwest England, glass beads from Italy and amber beads from the Baltic.

‘All these elements are proof of the existence of a complex, hierarchical society — comparable to the Celtic societies of the Iron Age,’ Dr Milcent explained.

The artefacts (some of which are pictured) are helping the researchers to paint a picture of what life might have been like for people living in this Celtic society some 2,800 years ago

The artefacts (some of which are pictured) are helping the researchers to paint a picture of what life might have been like for people living in this Celtic society some 2,800 years ago

Among the objects unearthed are items linked to farming, tools for manufacturing textiles and ceramics, equipment for wood and metalworking as well as swords and spear points

Among the objects unearthed are items linked to farming, tools for manufacturing textiles and ceramics, equipment for wood and metalworking as well as swords and spear points

Of the 327 Bronze Age hillforts known in France, this one near Gannat is thought to have contained the richest assortment of deposits — 20 in total, Dr Milcent explained — once finds from past excavations and lootings are factored in.

Only a handful of the other forts from the era have yielded any metal artefacts at all.

‘The site is a large built-up area located on a hill, fortified by two parallel ramparts, 300 metres [984 feet] long,’ the archaeologist added.

‘The surface is about 30 hectares, which is very large for the time because fortified bronze age sites are four hectares on average in France.’

‘This inhabited site was probably the capital of a large territory.’ 

The artefacts will now be added to the collection of the Musée Anne-de-Beaujeu in Moulins, central France, where they will feature in an upcoming exhibition.

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE CELTS?

The Celts were a European cultural group first evident in the 7th or 8th century BC.

However, exactly who they were and where they came from is still a source of some debate. 

The term ‘Celtic’ is a relatively modern one, used in the 19th century as a catch all term for peoples who share the same language, culture and ethnic identity.  

One theory suggests that the people we now call ‘Celts’ came from Austria or Central Europe, but that’s just one theory. 

DNA studies on Celtic populations in Britain suggest that they are not a unique genetic group.

Those of Celtic ancestry in Scotland and Cornwall more similar to the English than they are to other Celtic groups elsewhere in the world.

The Romans called the Celts the Galli and the Greeks called them Keltoi- both meaning barbarians.

Their maximum expansion was in the Third to Fifth Centuries BC, when they occupied much of Europe north of the Alps.

The Celts were a European cultural group first evident in the 7th or 8th century BC. However, exactly who they were and where they came from is still a source of some debate

The Celts were a European cultural group first evident in the 7th or 8th century BC. However, exactly who they were and where they came from is still a source of some debate

The Celts arrived in Britain by the Fourth or Fifth Centuries BC. They had reached Ireland by the Second or Third Centuries BC and possibly even earlier, displacing earlier people who were already on both islands.

The Gaels, Gauls, Britons, Irish, and Gallations were all Celtic people.

Celtic culture survived longer in these areas than in continental Europe. In many ways it still survives today.

On the continent, the expanding Romans defeated various Celtic groups and subsumed their culture. 

Julius Ceaser conducted a successful campaign against the Gauls in 52 to 58 BC, and as part of that campaign invaded Britain in 54 BC, but was unsuccessful in conquering the island.

Ninety-seven years later, in 43 AD, the Romans invaded Britain again, pushing the Britons to the west – into Wales and Cornwall – and north into Scotland. 

Hadrian’s Wall was built beginning in 120 AD to protect the Romans from the northern Celtic tribes.

The Romans never occupied Ireland, nor did the Anglo-Saxons who invaded Britain after the Romans withdrew in the Fifth Century.

Celtic culture survived more strongly in Ireland than elsewhere – partly because of hill forts.

Christianity came to Ireland in the Fourth Century, with St Patrick arriving later in 432 AD and facilitating its spread.

Many of the Celtic cultural elements integrated with Christianity. 

The most “religious” aspect of Celtic culture, Druidic practice, diminished, and many say that the Druids were systematically suppressed and killed. 

However, many cultural elements lasted, including ancient oral stories which were recorded by Irish monks in both Irish and Latin – without much editorial interference.

Viking invasions in the Seventh to Ninth Centuries AD interrupted the Irish culture and destroyed many cultural elements, including many manuscripts lost in plundered monasteries. 

The Vikings founded several Irish cities, such as Belfast and Dublin. However, they never really took over the island.

Ireland was not truly occupied by another nation until 1160, when the Normans invaded from England.

British occupation of Ireland lasted until 1922 – five northern counties – known as Northern Ireland – are still part of Britain.

Even under English occupation many elements of Celtic culture survived, so in many ways Celtic culture has been continuous in Ireland for 2,400 years or more.

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