6 July 2025 The Future is the Product of the Past

Outstanding Bronze Age artifacts discovered in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France

Hundreds of bronze objects have been discovered buried in pottery in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France.

The research team, led by Pierre-Yves Milcent of the University of Toulouse Jean Jaurès, is conducting archaeological research and excavations near the Sioule gorges, south of the Allier department.

Near Gannat, these studies recently led to the discovery of a large fortified settlement from the end of the Bronze Age (around 800 BC). Fortified settlements were numerous in the Late Bronze Age, but rarely this large (about thirty hectares). The site is currently France’s Bronze Age habitat, which delivered the largest number of metal objects.

Women’s or children’s jewelry, such as bracelets, anklets, and pendants, were discovered in the bottom of two vessels discovered in 2020. Then there was a layer of tools and weapons in one, and chariot ornamentation, riding accouterments, and wheel pieces in the other. Bronze axes were then placed to the tops of each vessel.

The team revealed two new, pristine metal deposits in August 2021. One was placed in a pot covered with a vessel. The other consists of a series of ax blades carefully placed in a pit.

Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes bronze age
The team revealed two new, pristine metal deposits in August 2021. One was placed in a pot covered with a vessel. The other consists of a series of ax blades carefully placed in a pit. Photo: (M. VALLÉE)

“They could be offerings as found in Greece at that time, deposited during the foundation or abandonment of the settlement, to help ensure divine protection”, said Dr. Pierre-Yves Milcent.

“This discovery, with intact artifacts, is exceptional because it allows us to better understand how and why they were buried”, he added.

With the new discovery, the team will be able to confirm the initial hypotheses raised during the excavation of the excavated sites in 2020. The hypothesis is that the finds are voluntary divine offerings.

The Bronze Age is an unknown period of European Protohistory, which, as stated in the press release, took place between 2200 and 800 BC. Therefore, the evaluation and analysis of the finds are of great importance.

Excavations and studies carried out in the Gannat region and within the framework of the Collective Research Project dedicated to the south of Allier during Protohistory and Antiquity, are organized by the University of Toulouse JeanJaurès. It was conducted by Jaurès and the TRACES-UMR 5608 Laboratory and was conducted with the support of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Archaeological Regional Service, the Allier Department Preventive Archeology Service (SAPDA), and the Anne-de-Museum of Arts and Archeology.

University of Toulouse-Jean Jaurès

Press release

Over Photo: (F. BORD)

Related Articles

2,600-year-old Terracotta Pipeline found in India

11 August 2024

11 August 2024

During the 10th phase of archaeological excavations at the Keeladi archaeological site in Tamil Nadu, India, archaeologists uncovered a terracotta...

Roman era total of 46 early settler burials discovered in Germany

17 September 2023

17 September 2023

Students from Goethe University Frankfurt, in collaboration with the Hesse archeology department at the Darmstadt branch of the State Monument...

Archeologists find a 3,500-year-old mosaic in central Turkey

16 September 2021

16 September 2021

Archaeologists have discovered a 3,500-year-old mosaic in central Turkey, which might be one of the world’s oldest. The impressive power...

1,600-year-old Roman-era wine shop unearthed in Greece

29 January 2024

29 January 2024

A team led by Scott Gallimore of Wilfrid Laurier University and Martin Wells of Austin College discovered a 1,600-year-old Roman-era...

New discoveries show that Claros continued to serve as an oracle center after Christianity

14 September 2022

14 September 2022

Game boards and forked cross motifs dating to the fifth and seventh centuries AD were discovered at the ancient Greek...

Ancient eggshell in the Northern Cape hiding 300,000 years of history

12 July 2021

12 July 2021

Evidence from an ancient eggshell has revealed important new information about the extreme climate change faced by human early ancestors....

Archaeologists discovered an enigmatic complex of rooms, interiors of which covered with figural scenes unique to Christian art

7 April 2023

7 April 2023

Archaeologists of the Polish Center of Mediterranean Archaeology at the University of Warsaw discovered an enigmatic complex of rooms made...

4,500-Year-Old Three Warrior Graves Found in Germany, One Still Wearing an Arm Guard

30 January 2025

30 January 2025

Extraordinary discovery during the construction of a New Power Line: Archaeologists unearth a cemetery from the Copper Age with Three...

The Temple of Persian Water Goddess Anahita Discovered in Iraqi Kurdistan

8 March 2024

8 March 2024

Archaeologists excavating the Rabana-Merquly mountain fortress in what is present-day Iraqi Kurdistan suggest that it may also have served as...

Archaeologists Uncover lost Indigenous Settlement of Sarabay, Florida

9 June 2021

9 June 2021

The University of North Florida archaeological team is now quite sure that they have uncovered Sarabay, a lost Indigenous northeast...

HS2 archaeologists discover Romanization of Iron Age village in Britain

12 January 2022

12 January 2022

Archaeologists have uncovered a vast Roman trading town on Britain’s HS2 high-speed rail route. Evidence found during a dig of...

Archaeologists Uncover 8 Graves Dated 6,500 Years Ago in Lausanne, Swiss

30 October 2021

30 October 2021

Archaeologists have unearthed eight prehistoric tombs between 5,500 and 6,500 years old in the Swiss town of Pully. The site...

Norwegian couple found a Viking Age Grave And Sword in their garden

3 July 2023

3 July 2023

While trying to expand their home, a Norwegian couple found a Viking Age grave and sword in their garden. It’s...

Surprising Discovery: In Guatemala, archaeologists uncover hidden neighborhood in the ancient Maya city

28 September 2021

28 September 2021

A recent lidar analysis revealed, the region surrounding Central Tikal’s Lost World Complex, which was long thought to be a...

Archaeologists discovered floor mosaics with early Christian designs in Roman town of Marcianopolis, in Bulgaria

16 January 2024

16 January 2024

Archaeologists discovered floor mosaics with early Christian designs and nearly 800 artifacts in the archaeological reserve of Marcianopolis in Devnya,...