Pech Maho
Encyclopedia
Pech Maho oppidum
is located on the town Sigean
(Aude
, France). The last season of excavations on the archaeological site since 2004 has identified most of the walls and the habitats of a pre-Roman oppidum
, particularly highlighting the latter stages of occupation of this site before its definitive abandonment.
Pech Maho was a fortified trading post occupied from the sixth century BC to the third century BC. There are observed three successive occupations, apparently discontinuous, presumably by a people called Elisycs (Ἐλισύκοι ων-Greek) installed at the limit of Iberian
and Ligurian
. The site seems to be a commercial crossroads between the trading nations of the Mediterranean (Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Greeks
) and the indigenous people. The almost total destruction of the oppidum occurred at the end of the third century BC and may be linked with the Second Punic War
who opposed Rome and Carthage. This war resulted in the control by Rome of eastern Spain and western Languedoc. The catapult bullets found in the levels of destruction of the oppidum would be probative evidence. The excavations have also revealed traces of funerary rituals and animal sacrifices mixing cremation of human remains. These celebrations were probably held in honor of fallen heroes by the people who returned shortly after the destruction of the oppidum. Then the site would have received a few visits during the following decades before being completely forgotten. This period coincides with the establishment in the region of the Romans, who made Narbonne
their prefecture since they will dominate Gallia Narbonensis
.
, which then allowed to join the Italy to Iberia. The oppidum was then directly on the shore of a sea-navigable and not a lagoon separated by dry land that currently observed. It stood on a hill, providing defence, and was linked to trade routes.
Location : 43°02′44.45"N 2°57′22.4"E
Pech Maho has been nominated as an Official Historical Monument in 1961 by the French Ministry of Culture and acquired by the State in 1968.
Oppidum
Oppidum is a Latin word meaning the main settlement in any administrative area of ancient Rome. The word is derived from the earlier Latin ob-pedum, "enclosed space," possibly from the Proto-Indo-European *pedóm-, "occupied space" or "footprint."Julius Caesar described the larger Celtic Iron Age...
is located on the town Sigean
Sigean
Sigean is a commune in the Aude department in southern France.-Population:-Culture:* The Musée des Corbières in Sigean is a museum dedicated to history and archaeology....
(Aude
Aude
Aude is a department in south-central France named after the river Aude. The local council also calls the department "Cathar Country".Aude is also a frequent feminine French given name in Francophone countries, deriving initially from Aude or Oda, a wife of Bertrand, Duke of Aquitaine, and mother...
, France). The last season of excavations on the archaeological site since 2004 has identified most of the walls and the habitats of a pre-Roman oppidum
Oppidum
Oppidum is a Latin word meaning the main settlement in any administrative area of ancient Rome. The word is derived from the earlier Latin ob-pedum, "enclosed space," possibly from the Proto-Indo-European *pedóm-, "occupied space" or "footprint."Julius Caesar described the larger Celtic Iron Age...
, particularly highlighting the latter stages of occupation of this site before its definitive abandonment.
Pech Maho was a fortified trading post occupied from the sixth century BC to the third century BC. There are observed three successive occupations, apparently discontinuous, presumably by a people called Elisycs (Ἐλισύκοι ων-Greek) installed at the limit of Iberian
Iberians
The Iberians were a set of peoples that Greek and Roman sources identified with that name in the eastern and southern coasts of the Iberian peninsula at least from the 6th century BC...
and Ligurian
Ligurian
Ligurian may mean:* Ligurian, pertaining to modern Liguria* Ligurian, pertaining to the ancient Ligures* Ligurian , a modern language spoken in parts of Italy, France, Monaco and Argentina...
. The site seems to be a commercial crossroads between the trading nations of the Mediterranean (Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Greeks
Greeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
) and the indigenous people. The almost total destruction of the oppidum occurred at the end of the third century BC and may be linked with the Second Punic War
Second Punic War
The Second Punic War, also referred to as The Hannibalic War and The War Against Hannibal, lasted from 218 to 201 BC and involved combatants in the western and eastern Mediterranean. This was the second major war between Carthage and the Roman Republic, with the participation of the Berbers on...
who opposed Rome and Carthage. This war resulted in the control by Rome of eastern Spain and western Languedoc. The catapult bullets found in the levels of destruction of the oppidum would be probative evidence. The excavations have also revealed traces of funerary rituals and animal sacrifices mixing cremation of human remains. These celebrations were probably held in honor of fallen heroes by the people who returned shortly after the destruction of the oppidum. Then the site would have received a few visits during the following decades before being completely forgotten. This period coincides with the establishment in the region of the Romans, who made Narbonne
Narbonne
Narbonne is a commune in southern France in the Languedoc-Roussillon region. It lies from Paris in the Aude department, of which it is a sub-prefecture. Once a prosperous port, it is now located about from the shores of the Mediterranean Sea...
their prefecture since they will dominate Gallia Narbonensis
Gallia Narbonensis
Gallia Narbonensis was a Roman province located in what is now Languedoc and Provence, in southern France. It was also known as Gallia Transalpina , which was originally a designation for that part of Gaul lying across the Alps from Italia and it contained a western region known as Septimania...
.
Location
The oppidum is actually located on a low altitude (29m) hill on the shore of the small coastal river Berre. When it was established it was located near the mouths of the Aude and Berre, the ford of the Heraclean LaneVia Domitia
The Via Domitia was the first Roman road built in Gaul, to link Italy and Hispania through Gallia Narbonensis, across what is now southern France. The route that the Romans regularised and paved was ancient when they set out to survey it, so old that it traces the mythic route travelled by Heracles...
, which then allowed to join the Italy to Iberia. The oppidum was then directly on the shore of a sea-navigable and not a lagoon separated by dry land that currently observed. It stood on a hill, providing defence, and was linked to trade routes.
Location : 43°02′44.45"N 2°57′22.4"E
Discovery and excavations
The site was discovered in 1913. Its name is contemporary, the ancient name is unknown. The excavations were conducted from 1948 to 1957 (J. Campardou) from 1959 to 1974 (Y. Solier) and again since 1998 (Gailledrat, Solier). The excavations are planned until 2010. In Sigean there is a museum that brings together collections from these excavations. The site is not freely accessible to the public. It can be visited with a guide, beginning at the museum on the last Saturday of the month, off season, on Wednesday morning in July and August and on demand.Pech Maho has been nominated as an Official Historical Monument in 1961 by the French Ministry of Culture and acquired by the State in 1968.
External links
- Sigean Museum which displays many artifacts from the site of Pech Maho, virtual tour.
- Report of planned excavations, Éric Gailledrat, Alexandre Beylier, Hugues Boisson Henri Duday, André Rivalan, 2006, PDF, 62p.
- Pech Maho, Ttriennial Program 2008-2010, Interim Report 2008, Éric Gailledrat, CNRS, PDF, 142p.
- Pech Maho in the sixth-fifth century av. AD. A place of exchange in elisyc territory , Eric Gailledrat, Pierre Rouillard, Revue archéologique de Narbonnaise no 35, pp. 401–410, 2003. Suppléments ISSN 0153-9124. Association de la revue archéologique de Narbonnaise , Montpellier
- Rituals for the fallen heroes?, Press release , CNRS, 10 November 2009 copied in Gallic rituals of the slain