An ancient rural settlement and a rare monumental structure have been uncovered in Chamborêt, in the Haute-Vienne department, ahead of work on the RN147 highway between Limoges and Bellac. Archaeologists from Inrap excavated an area of 8,800 square meters, revealing an agropastoral site from the third century, centered around a water source. This discovery offers new insights into the development of the Lémovices territory during late antiquity, a period spanning the late Roman Empire and the early Middle Ages.
The excavation uncovered the remains of an early occupation that appears to have been primarily agricultural and pastoral in nature. This included at least one structure made of perishable materials, such as wooden posts and ash pits, as well as a dry stone building with a rectangular shape. These findings provide a regional reference for understanding agropastoral practices in the area, which have been poorly documented until now. The site’s earliest phases were largely sealed by layers of soil, and the movable items recovered—such as tools and domestic objects—help to confirm the site’s agricultural and domestic functions.
After an initial period of occupation, the site was apparently abandoned before being reoccupied in the third century. Evidence of a fire was found, indicated by fragments of bricks and tiles showing signs of heating. The layout of the site changed significantly during this time, with floors being leveled to seal the earlier structures. These modifications helped to trap a large number of ceramic fragments, which will contribute to local archaeological reference frameworks and provide clues about the nature of the occupation.
In addition to the main structures, a unique arrangement of large granite blocks was uncovered, forming a kind of monumental wall or boundary around an artificial spring. This structure, dated to the third and fourth centuries, was identified using ground-penetrating radar, which revealed that it extends into an adjacent parcel untouched by current construction. Water appears to have played a central role in the site’s use, with a basin built around the spring and a wooden cistern found in its original position. Artifacts such as ceramic shards, coins from the late Roman Empire, and a fragment of a decorative element depicting a deity or a medusa further support the idea of a monumentalization of the site during this period.
Archaeological Site in Chamborêt Reveals Ancient Agropastoral and Monumental Features
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Original sources:
- 🇫🇷Inrap



