Archeological ‘breakthrough’ could confirm origins of Paris: ministry
Archaeologists say the 65-foot wall bears fire damage and artifacts that could link it to Lutetia, the ancient settlement of Paris.
- Archaeologists unearthed a 20m-long charred wall near Notre-Dame in France, a discovery that could confirm Paris was built upon the ruins of the ancient Gallic Lut.
- For centuries, the location of Lut remained debated, with some researchers hypothesizing it was in Nanterre; the Parisii tribe historically burned their fortified town in 52BC to prevent Roman capture.
- Heritage curator Doroth Chaoui-Derieux dated the wall's wooden elements to between 200BC and 10BC, while excavations also revealed a two-meter-thick artificial platform composed of sand and gravel.
- Edward Lumley, regional director of cultural affairs, stated 'Keeping this wall on site is not possible' due to fragility, so specialists will create a moulding for study and reconstruction.
- Regional curator Stphane Deschamps noted the discovery 'fills an archaeological vacuum,' effectively ruling out competing location theories and confirming Paris sits atop the ancient Gallic settlement.
109 Articles
109 Articles
'Major archaeological breakthrough' could confirm origins of Paris
An ancient wall discovered in central Paris was hailed as a "major breakthrough" this week, as the archaeological find may have settled a long-standing debate about the location of the city's original settlement.
Archaeologists have discovered a wall about 20 meters long in the middle of Paris. The discovery provides a new clue in a decade-old mystery about the origins of the city.
A stone and wood wall of about 20 meters long was found.It could be part of the fortifications of the ancient Lutecia de los Parisii, a Gala tribe that inhabited the region before the Roman conquest.
Archaeological 'breakthrough' could confirm origins of Paris
An ancient wall discovered in central Paris was hailed as a "major breakthrough" on Wednesday, as the archaeological find may have settled a long-standing debate about the location of the city's original settlement.
The French Ministry of Culture has announced the discovery in the center of Paris of a section of wall in a courtyard of the Hôtel-Dieu hospital, near the cathedral of Notre-Dame, which could belong to the enclosure of the ancient Gala Lutecia mentioned by Julius Caesar in his account of the conquest of the city in 52 B.C.E. This stone and wood wall, about twenty meters long, found low on the island of the Cité of the historical center of the Fr…
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