Research Projects
Bibracte environs and agglomeration of ‘Sources de l’Yonne’
A research project of the Department of Archaeology.
Background
This project involves a multinational team under the auspices of the Centre archéologique européen (CAE) examining the nature of Late La Tène and Gallo-Roman landscape development and settlement in the immediate environs of the oppidum of Bibracte (Mont Beuvray, Burgundy, France), perhaps the most intensively studied oppidum in Europe. Recent years have focused on understanding the nature of a large unenclosed complex revealed at Sources de l’Yonne, close to Bibracte.
Results
A combination of geophysical and molehill survey alongside excavation has revealed a Late La Tène unenclosed complex covering approximately 120ha located around the source of the Yonne river c 4km from Bibracte. Excavations in 2007 around the source, in combination with John Creighton (University of Reading), and on the terraces of La Grande Vente (2009-11), in conjunction with the Peter Haupt, Ines Klenner and Arno Braun (Johannes Gutenberg Universtat, Mainz) and Laura Cripps (Howard Community College, Maryland), have revealed occupation of La Tène D2-Augustan (90BC-AD15) date. The size and chronology of the complex at Sources de l’Yonne potentially contrasts with the traditional chronology and role of many Late La Tène unenclosed agglomerations, adding further complexity to the story of the development of Late La Tène oppida in Gaul. Current research is focusing on post-excavation and publication of excavations and survey work completed to date.
Funding
This project has been funded by the CAE. The 2007 excavation season was funded by the British Academy.
References
Creighton, J., P. Haupt, I. Klenner, T. Moore, P. Nouvel, C. Petit, & M. Schönfelder. 2007. Prospections autour de Bibracte: Nouvelles méthodes et nouveaux résultats. Bulletin intérieur de l’AFEAF 25: 17-20.
Creighton, J. & T. Moore. 2008. Sondages au site des Sources de l'Yonne, commune de Glux-en-Glenne. Bibracte. Rapport Annuel d'Activité 2007: 210. Glux-en-Glenne: Centre archéologique européen du Mont Beuvray.
Creighton, J., C. Haselgrove, P. Lowther, & T. Moore. 2008: Becoming Roman in southern Burgundy: A field survey between Autun and Bibracte in the Arroux Valley (Saône-et-Loire), 2000-2003. Internet Archaeology 25. http://intarch.ac.uk/journal/issue25/creighton_index.html
Braun, A., L.Cripps, Haupt, P., I.Klenner & T. Moore. 2010. Sondages aux Sources de l’Yonne, in V. Guichard (ed.) Bibracte. Rapport annuel d’activité 2009: 265-274. Glux-en-Glenne: Centre archéologique européen du Mont Beuvray.
Moore, T. 2011. Les sites majeurs de la périphérie du Mont Beuvray. Sondages aux Sources de l’Yonne, in V. Guichard (ed.) Bibracte. Rapport annuel d’activité 2010: 423-442. Glux-en-Glenne: Centre archéologique européen du Mont Beuvray.
