Ancient wall found in Paris may confirm location of Lutetia

Archaeologists have unearthed a 2,000-year-old wall on the Île de la Cité in Paris, a discovery that may resolve a long-standing debate regarding the exact location of the city's earliest settlement, Lutetia.

The structure, measuring approximately 22 meters (72 feet) and constructed from large stones and crisscrossed wooden beams, was found during excavations at the Hôtel-Dieu hospital. Carbon dating places the wall between 200 BCE and 10 BCE, coinciding with the period of Roman conquest in Gaul. The find includes a Gallic spearhead and evidence of significant fire damage, including charred seeds and burned wooden remains.

For decades, scholars have debated whether the Gallic tribe known as the Parisii settled on the island or further west in Nanterre. While some researchers previously doubted Julius Caesar’s historical accounts—which placed Lutetia on the Seine island—the French Ministry of Culture has described this find as a “significant breakthrough.” The presence of these defensive structures on the island provides physical evidence that aligns with Caesar’s descriptions of a fortified settlement.