Ancient wall discovery in Paris may reveal city origins

Archaeologists have discovered a 72-foot stone-and-wood wall beneath the Hôtel Dieu hospital on the Île de la Cité, a find that may resolve long-standing debates regarding the origins of Paris.

Carbon dating places the wall’s construction between 200 BCE and 10 BCE, coinciding with the period of Roman conquest in Gaul. The discovery includes a Gallic spearhead and evidence of fire, such as charred seeds and remnants of a burned wooden building. These findings potentially link the site to the destruction of Lutetia, the fortified settlement of the Parisii tribe, described by Julius Caesar during the Gallic Wars.

For decades, scholars questioned Caesar’s accounts, as previous excavations lacked evidence of a major settlement on the Île de la Cité, leading some to believe Lutetia was located in Nanterre. However, Matthieu Poux, an archaeology professor at the University of Lyon II, stated that this discovery has changed his perspective, leaving him with “no doubt” that the ancient city was situated on the island. The French culture ministry noted that further research is required to confirm the exact purpose and construction date of the wall.