Archaeologists uncover Gallic and medieval remains in Tonnerre, France

Archaeologists from the National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research (Inrap) have uncovered a significant sequence of historical remains on Montbellant hill in Tonnerre, Burgundy. The excavation, covering approximately 750 square metres, has revealed the transformation of an Iron Age Gallic oppidum into a medieval upper town spanning over 1,500 years.

The site features archaeological deposits exceeding two metres in depth, preserving successive phases of occupation from the first century BC until the end of the Middle Ages. Notable findings include a large medieval building with multiple rooms and a cellar carved directly into the limestone, situated adjacent to an older Roman underground structure.

Due to the complexity of the stratigraphy, researchers are excavating the site layer by layer to document the site's evolution, which includes the development of streets and industrial spaces before the hilltop settlement was eventually abandoned.