Paris archaeologists find fort Caesar’s army destroyed
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Archaeologists working in Paris, France, uncovered the remains of a Celtic fort destroyed by Julius Caesar’s forces in 52 B.C.
The team was excavating the courtyard of the Hôtel-Dieu hospital, near Notre-Dame, when they found a 65-foot stone and timber wall built in the Gallic tradition. Evidence of a violent fire, including charred remains and burnt seeds, suggests the Parisii tribe intentionally burned Lutetia, their settlement and the fort, to prevent Caesar from taking it.
For years, historians have known from Caesar’s writings about the Gallic Wars that the Parisii destroyed their town rather than surrender it. However, the exact location of Lutetia remained unknown, leading to ongoing debate among archaeologists. This discovery confirms Lutetia was located on the Île-de-la-Cité island in the Seine River and provides physical proof of the event Caesar described. The archaeological team also found a Gallic spearhead and dated wooden elements to between 200 and 10 B.C.
Because the remains are fragile, the archaeologists plan to create a 3D replica of the wall to preserve and share the discovery with the public. The team believes this find resolves a long-standing archaeological question about the location of the ancient settlement.
