In a monumental discovery, researchers this summer have unveiled traces of a Stone Age village in the wetlands of San Gon in northeastern France, shedding exceptional light on the social organization of that historical epoch. The revelation comes 150 years after the first stone tools were discovered at the same archaeological site.
Remy Martino, a researcher at France’s National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), who identified the village’s location alongside his team, stated that “this is the last piece of the puzzle that we were missing.” The area, covering 450 hectares, already revealed 15 large flint mines and 135 collective underground tombs.
Over a century and a half since the first flint tools were unearthed, researchers also found five megalithic tombstones, 10 stone blocks used for axe-sharpening, and evidence of crop fields created through slash-and-burn techniques.
Martino emphasized the importance of the discovery, saying that it provides a pivotal point for understanding the “economic, social, and geographical organization during the Stone Age,” adding that there is “no parallel” to this integrated community in Europe.
The archaeological village, dating back to the late Stone Age (between 3500 and 3000 BCE), was discovered in midsummer when a pit was identified for a fence dating back to that era, located 10 kilometers to the south. The fence once circled a hill with an estimated area of one hectare, according to recent assessments in the region currently utilized for agriculture.
Furthermore, an initial dome-shaped building within the fence and a large waste pit with a 20-meter diameter were uncovered, in addition to external wells. The village’s inhabitants were farmers and livestock breeders who settled near a water source, above a layer of groundwater.
Martino elucidated that “the site was organized according to a complete structure, laying the foundations for our society.”
These consecutive discoveries are part of a research program initiated by CNRS two decades ago. In total, 50 people participated in the latest expedition, including researchers from various sectors within France and abroad, aided by 20 excavators, most of whom are archaeology students.
The discovery marks a milestone not just in French archaeology, but also offers an unparalleled glimpse into the socio-economic and geographical frameworks of Stone Age societies. It acts as a mirror reflecting the distant past, hinting at the rudiments that have shaped human civilizations for millennia.
