This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: An ancient wall discovered in central Paris was hailed as a "major breakthrough" on Wednesday, as the archaeological find may have settled a long-standing debate about the location of the city's original settlement. A roughly 20-meter (66-foot) wall dating from the Gallo-Roman period was discovered this summer beneath a hospital on the Ile de la Cite, a stone's throw from Notre Dame Cathedral, the French Culture Ministry said.
The stone-and-wood structure is thought to be a fragment of the ramparts of Lutetia—the ancient name for Paris—built by the Gallic Parisii tribe, which lived along the Seine River in the Iron Age. The Ile de la Cite has traditionally been regarded as the center of Lutetia, but a rival theory, backed by archaeological research, contends that it was actually in Nanterre, a suburb to the west. "We may be looking at one of the most important remains ever discovered for understanding Gallic Lutetia," Culture Minister Catherine Pegard said in a statement that described the discovery as "a major breakthrough." "Scientific caution still requires that we verify its function and its chronology, but the convergence of evidence is particularly remarkable at this stage." Lutetia was first mentioned in the seventh book of Roman leader Julius Caesar's "Gallic Wars" series, where it was said to be on an island in the Seine River linked by bridges—a vague description that has given rise to many theories about its location.
The wall, uncovered during excavations beneath the Hotel-Dieu hospital, also bears traces of fire, which may correspond to Caesar's account that the Gauls set fire to their town before the Battle of Lutetia against the Romans. Carbon dating estimates that the charred material dates from 10–200 B.C., the ministry said in its statement—a time frame that includes the Battle of Lutetia in 52 B.C. The Ile de la Cite, home to Notre Dame Cathedral, is the largest island in the Seine River in the Paris region and became the center of the Roman settlement of Lutetia.
"It's dizzying to find oneself here and to discover what is probably the origin of the city of Paris," Paris Mayor Emmanuel Gregoire said on Wednesday after examining the wall. It is barely a meter (3 feet) high and had been buried 4 meters (13 feet) deep in a courtyard of the Hotel-Dieu hospital, the capital's oldest. An archaeological dig began there in February.
"All of our predecessors dreamed of finding traces of Gallic presence on the Ile de la Cite," said Dorothee Chaoui-Derieux, coordinator of archaeological operations in Paris for the Culture Ministry. "There has been a lot of speculation on the subject. We're fortunate to be in the right place at the right time," she added.
"Beneath our feet, thanks to the trowels of our colleagues, this wall built in the Gallic tradition is gradually revealing its secrets." Master's in physics with research experience. Long-time science news enthusiast. Plays key role in Science X's editorial success.
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