Fascinating Bronze Age discoveries in France include gold ring, ancient road

This year has seen a wave of remarkable archaeological discoveries in France, shedding light on the country’s ancient past. 

 An excavation of a Bronze Age settlement in northwestern France has uncovered a fascinating golden ring, swords, and several other intriguing artifacts from the era, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

The dig, led by INRAP—France’s National Institute for Preventative Archaeological Research—took place in Brittany. The site, which contains Bronze Age relics, also shows signs of continuous settlement up through the 10th century. Among the discoveries were vases, terra cotta fragments, swords, coins, and the striking golden ring.

Furthermore, the recent excavation suggests that the site was part of an ancient trade route that facilitated the movement of goods across the continent. During the dig, INRAP archaeologists discovered a 26-foot-wide (8-meter-wide) strip of quartz pebbles, which they identified as an ancient road. The road’s edges were defined by ditches, and the archaeologists found evidence of ruts in the quartz, likely made by wheeled vehicles. According to an INRAP statement, the road probably dates back to the early second century and was in use until the fourth century.

The gold ring (pictured above) was discovered along the road and dates to approximately the same era. It is a Roman nicolo, recognizable by the figure etched into the stone. According to the INRAP statement, the figure on the ring is likely Venus Victrix, a goddess who represents victory for the wearer.

Later, the INRAP team uncovered evidence of a settlement at the site that existed between the 5th and 10th centuries, with its peak occurring between the 7th and 8th centuries. The dozen Carolingian denarii (pictured at the top of the article) are dated to the 9th or 10th centuries.

Although no structures have survived at the site, the researchers identified rectangular plots separated by ditches. While some of these plots appeared to have buildings, others were likely used for different purposes, such as cultivating crops and grazing animals.

The team also discovered underground storage silos typically used for grain storage, water storage pits, and other pits that likely served as hearths or ovens. Some of the ancient terracotta items, originally used for storing goods or cooking, showed signs of reuse in the medieval period, suggesting that later inhabitants of the settlement were aware of its earlier occupation.

The INRAP excavation is just the latest in a series of fascinating archaeological discoveries from France this year. In April, a separate team examined victims of ritual human sacrifice in the Rhône Valley and found that this practice was widespread across Europe during the Neolithic. To learn more about this year's remarkable archaeological finds, be sure to check out our 2024 recap.

By Naila Huseynova