In the Hauts-de-France region, archaeologists have discovered a massive village inhabited between the Late Bronze Age and the beginning of the Iron Age. This settlement, which spans more than three hectares, features a high concentration of buildings, making it an exceptional site within the archaeological landscape of northern France.
Excavations have revealed more than twenty buildings, some of them quite large, with rectangular designs up to 25 meters in length and apse-like finishes. The presence of these imposing structures, along with other smaller buildings scattered throughout the area, suggests a well-defined spatial organization and differentiation in land use. This configuration indicates that the settlement may have played a central role within a broader network of human occupations in the region.
The study of numerous pits found at the site has provided valuable information about the daily practices of its inhabitants. Traces related to activities such as spinning and weaving, metallurgy, food storage and processing have been identified.
Notable among the findings are ceramic fragments discovered in the fill of some of these structures, which have allowed researchers to reconstruct aspects of daily life in this prehistoric community.
One of the most surprising discoveries is an exceptionally well-preserved wooden box, dating to the early Iron Age. This 45 cm-sided structure features a unique assembly with few metal elements and walls made of vertical planks. Despite its remarkable state of preservation, the exact function of this object remains a mystery to archaeologists, who continue to investigate its potential use and original contents.
One of the most striking aspects of the excavation has been the identification of various combustion structures, whose design and location have raised intriguing questions about their function and technology. Inside the dwellings, circular pits have been documented, with diameters exceeding a meter and fills composed of materials exposed to high temperatures, such as reddened clay blocks and carbonaceous layers.
Additionally, larger rectangular combustion structures have been identified, systematically arranged along the walls of the buildings. These findings are complemented by a large circular model, excavated in an ancient silo and equipped with a thick refractory base, suggesting exposure to intense and sustained heat. Although investigations are ongoing, archaeologists are considering several hypotheses regarding their potential use, which could be related to food cooking or ceramic production.
The discovery of this settlement not only expands our knowledge of the distribution and organization of prehistoric communities in Hauts-de-France, but also raises new questions about the role it may have played in its time. The remarkable concentration of structures and artifacts within a relatively confined area suggests that the site may have been a key point within a network of interconnected settlements.
Excavations in Onnaing have provided crucial data for reconstructing life in the Protohistory of northern France, complementing other archaeological evidence from the region. With ongoing analysis of the recovered materials and future research, experts hope to uncover more details about the social, economic, and technological dynamics of these ancient communities.
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