14 October 2025 The Future is the Product of the Past

Archaeologists Uncovered a Tile Workshop From the First Century in Corsica

Archaeologists from the French National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research (INRAP) excavations on the east coast of Corsica have uncovered the remains of a tile workshop dating to the 1st century AD.

In preparation for a real estate development, INRAP archaeologists have been excavating the Étang de Diane, a lagoon that exits to the Tyrrhenian Sea just north of Aleria, on a total area of nearly 3,000 m² since July.

At the foot of the southern slope of the small hill overlooking the Etang de Diane, remains from the Early Iron Age bear witness to the first phase of human settlement on this site. Occupation is evidenced by around fifty structures, both hollow and pitted, which have yielded local ceramic material and Etruscan imports, as well as a large corpus of macro-lithic tools.

The presence of several post-holes illustrates the use of perishable materials in construction. The discovery of large pits, containing charcoal waste, fragmented millstones, and broken vases, points to the domestic sphere. Finally, the pebble features seem to correspond to the foundations of buildings. The protohistoric occupation extends beyond the excavation area, and it is therefore difficult to discern its structure at present.

Archaeologists excavate an ancient tile wash basin. Photo: Brice Chevaux/Inrap
Archaeologists excavate an ancient tile wash basin. Photo: Brice Chevaux/Inrap

Archaeologists found a fully operational tile production workshop just south of the prehistoric site, almost on top of the water. In the statement made by the Institute, it was stated that traces of the entire pottery production process can be seen in the remains of the workshop.



📣 Our WhatsApp channel is now LIVE! Stay up-to-date with the latest news and updates, just click here to follow us on WhatsApp and never miss a thing!!



This began with the decanting of the clay, which was carried out here in big a tile wash basin, (tegulae) 4.30 m in diameter; the firing of the architectural terracotta was then carried out in a kiln, equipped with a heating chamber with double vaulted corridors, installed within a large building whose walls are structured with pebbles embedded in a lime mortar.

There was another building with thick walls held up by buttresses next to the kiln building. According to archaeologists, it was the warehouse where the completed tiles were arranged and kept. Several sizable pits excavated beyond the building’s perimeter held kiln waste as well as broken and misfired tiles.

An aerial view shows the ancient pottery warehouse. Photo: Nathalie Gonzalez/ INRAP
An aerial view shows the ancient pottery warehouse. Photo: Nathalie Gonzalez/ INRAP

Excavations at the workshop also unearthed eight burials, archaeologists said. Most of the graves were made of tile and stone, but one was a pottery urn.

Other finds at the site in Aléria included several structures, ceramics, and tools from the early Iron Age. Archaeologists plan to analyze their finds in a laboratory in early 2025.

INRAP

Cover Image Credit: Nathalie Gonzalez/ Inrap

Related Articles

The Oldest Known Neanderthal Engravings were Discovered in a French Cave

13 August 2023

13 August 2023

According to a recent study published, the oldest engravings made by Neanderthals have been discovered on a cave wall in...

High school student discovered a 1500-year-old ancient Magical Mirror

9 August 2023

9 August 2023

 A High school student discovered an ancient “magical mirror” meant to ward off the evil eye in an archaeological excavation...

2.3-meter sword found in 4th-century tomb in Japan

27 January 2023

27 January 2023

The largest bronze mirror and the largest “dako” iron sword in Japan were discovered at the Tomio Maruyama burial mound...

Medieval Ring with a Skull Emblem Found in Wales and The Gold Coins are Declared Treasure

11 April 2021

11 April 2021

Located in wales nine treasure finds dating from the medieval and post-medieval periods have been declared treasure. Metal detectors in...

New insights into Scotland’s ‘bodies in the bog’

31 March 2022

31 March 2022

Fourteen bodies were found at Cramond near Edinburgh in 1975. New research suggests that two of the remains of these...

5,000-Year-Old Mysterious Ritual Pits Unearthed in Germany Reveal Burned Homes, Dog Sacrifices, and Human Skulls

1 August 2025

1 August 2025

Archaeologists uncover over 5,000-year-old ritual pits filled with burned structures, dog remains, and human skulls in Saxony-Anhalt, suggesting complex ceremonies...

To The West of Turkey Ancient Quarry Found

28 March 2021

28 March 2021

Turkey is very lucky in terms of ancient settlements. It is home to many unexplored artifacts, along with well-preserved ancient...

An Egyptian Tomb Decorated with Magic Snake Spells Discovered

9 November 2023

9 November 2023

During excavations at Abusir, between Giza and Saqqara, archaeologists at the Czech Institute of Egyptology (CIE) found an ancient tomb...

The 5,000-Year-Old Beaded Burials that Reveal Women’s Power in Copper Age Iberia: Over 270,000 Beads

6 February 2025

6 February 2025

Archaeologists investigating the Montelirio tholos burial site in southwestern Spain, dating back approximately 5,000 years, have uncovered that the women...

A New Hypothesis Tries to Explain What Triggers People’s Big Brains

14 March 2021

14 March 2021

The big brain is the decisive feature of our species. Not only are they the most complex organs in the...

The ruins of a thousand-year-old Buddhist Temple will be opened to the public in Kyrgyzstan

13 September 2022

13 September 2022

The unearthed remains of an ancient Buddhist temple in Kyrgyzstan will open to the public in mid-September as part of...

Thor’s hammer amulet discovered in Sweden

23 October 2022

23 October 2022

Archaeologists have unearthed the Thor’s Hammer amulet, which they call “one of its kind” in Ysby in southwestern Sweden’s Halland...

Oregon may be home to oldest human occupied site in North America

12 July 2023

12 July 2023

Where and when the first humans appeared in North America is a contentious issue that many disagree on, and this...

New Huge Viking-age boat grave discovered by Radar in Norway

12 April 2022

12 April 2022

Archaeologists have located a boat grave from the Viking Age near Øyesletta in Norway during a ground-penetrating radar (GPR) survey....

Medieval Beauty Secrets Uncovered: Rare Hair-Styling Tool Found at Scotland’s Eilean Donan Castle

30 September 2025

30 September 2025

A rare medieval hair-styling implement has been uncovered during excavations at Eilean Donan Castle in the Scottish Highlands, offering an...