Ancient wall found beneath Paris could confirm site of first settlement
Archaeologists have discovered a 20-meter Gallo-Roman wall beneath Paris, which may confirm the location of the ancient settlement of Lutetia. The find is considered a major breakthrough in understanding the city's origins near the Île de la Cité.
Why it matters
This discovery provides critical physical evidence to resolve long-standing historical debates regarding the geographic origins of Paris.
Paris mayor Emmanuel Grégoire (right) with archaeologist Julien Avinain at the site of the discovery in central Paris./Getty Images Paris mayor Emmanuel Grégoire (right) with archaeologist Julien Avinain at the site of the discovery in central Paris./Getty Images Paris Ancient wall found beneath Paris could confirm site of first settlement Discovery of Gallo-Roman period structure hailed as ‘major breakthrough’ by French culture ministry
Prefer the Guardian on Google An ancient wall discovered beneath Paris has been described as a “major breakthrough” by France’s culture ministry, with the archaeological find possibly confirming the location of the city’s original settlement.
A roughly 20-metre (65ft) stretch of wall dating from the Gallo-Roman period was discovered in Paris this summer beneath a building on the Île de la Cité, near Notre Dame Cathedral in the heart of the French capital.
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