Archaeologists uncovered a massive 3,000-year-old settlement during excavations at the Escaut Valley business park in Onnen. They believe the settlement served as an important community hub where large feasts and gatherings took place.
The site spans about 30,000 square meters, and researchers found remains of more than twenty buildings. Some structures measured as long as 25 meters.
The architectural layout suggests life here was well organized. The settlement played a central role in a wide network of prehistoric communities across the region. Numerous traces of domestic activity point to a lively social and economic life. Artifacts show the community practiced crafts such as metalworking, spinning, and weaving.
Archaeologists also uncovered a wooden box filled with metal parts; its purpose is still unknown, Arkeonews reported.
In the living quarters, the team found large circular pits and rectangular ovens. The pits were filled with material that showed evidence of very high temperatures. They were probably used for cooking or ceramic production. The largest oven had an especially thick refractory base.
The discovery sheds new light on prehistoric life in northern France. At the height of its prosperity, the settlement appears to have served as a central gathering place for neighboring communities.
Archaeologists hope further excavations will reveal more about the settlement’s social, economic, and technological life.
The findings were reported by the French National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research (INRAP).
