Hillforts in France (22th c. BC-1st c. AD): a draft of current thinking

Les établissements de hauteur défendus protohistoriques en France (XXIIe-Ier siècles av. J.-C.)

A review of current knowledge is proposed based on updated data for 1330 fortified sites on high ground. These, for the most part, have been explored on too limited an area to understand their precise nature and status. Generally, they are located on spurs and cover a very small area, particularly in the Southeast. Only a quarter of them exceed 7 ha. The size of the fortifications is also an essential criteria, but it was only possible to address it from one clue – the length: the range of disparities are very wide there also; but, we note that this length doubles on average at the end of the Iron Age. The materials of the ramparts reveal trends: earth dominates in the northwest half, stone…

Les puits de l’oppidum de l’Ermitage (Agen, Lot-et-Garonne).

Within the context of a “projet collectif de recherche”, the publication of works directed by Richard Boudet on the hillfort of the Ermitage in Agen, two wells have been studied. The analysis of structures and artefacts (pottery, metal, wood) suggests that they were probably used to draw water and not devoted to chthonian rituals. Comparisons with other wells un South West of Gaul suggest that in most cases, they may have been used in the same way, even though, in very few cases rituals relating to the domestic field cannot be excluded.