Operation: preventive excavation
Excavation period: 2nd June – 18th July 2008
Operation directed by: Aurélien SARTOU
Developer: Eiffage

Following a diagnosis completed in November 2007 by Catherine Ballarin, an archaeologist from INRAP (the French National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research), Eveha carried out an excavation in June and July 2008 on the future A65 motorway between Langon and Pau (South West France). The subsequent road construction was carried out by Eiffage.

The excavation site is located at the foot of the plateaux of Saint-Cricq-Villeneuve. To the south, it overlooks the valley of the river Ludon.

The archaeological features discovered included a large quadrangular ditched enclosure in which were found many hollow structures, notably postholes, large pits, and a well. Study of the large quantity of ceramic collected from the ditch of the enclosure enabled the period of this occupation to be dated to the second half of the 16th century. Three main occupational phases were identified. The first involved agricultural use, as indicated by several shallow ditches not containing any artefacts. Secondly, a 2 or 3 metre wide, 1.5 metre deep, ditch was dug in the southern part of the site. This appears to delineate a large hydromorphic area to the north. The presence of a road next to the excavation site prevented us from determining the length of the ditch and its function. The ditch was then abandoned and, in the final stage, truncated by a second one delineating a 50x60m enclosure whose southern limit could not be found during the excavation campaign.

The preliminary analysis of the structures inside the enclosure indicates the presence of two wide quadrangular buildings, both of them 9x13m. One is built on a thin, stone bed foundation (a waterproofing system which enables the building to be insulated from moisture in the ground) and features postholes dug into this structure. The other stands on postholes dug directly into the ground. As minimal quantities of terracotta were found, and no evidence of masonry structures, it can be inferred that the buildings were constructed using a wattle and daub technique, and roofed with biomaterials. A small, 6x5m structure built with a suspended floor using wooden posts, may have been a storage building such as a granary. To the west of the structure built on stone foundations there is a round structure of 3.5m diameter which is probably an oven.

In the south-western quarter of the enclosure, delineated by two segments of a ditch, no notable features were identified. This area may have been used for cattle penning whilst the ditch to the west of this area served to water cattle. Seven wells were found in total and of two different types. Some are 2m wide and 1.5 to 2m deep, and were probably used for cattle watering; they involved a water lifting system with a counterweight, as indicated by a lever found in its place in a posthole. Others are a perfect cylinder in shape, 1m wide and over 4 metres deep so as to reach the deeper water tables, which most certainly provided more suitable water for human consumption. The final occupation phase seems to have been relatively brief and frequently interrupted. The site may well have been a shepherd’s refuge whilst herding and was probably used for no more than 20 years. The ceramic artefacts found in the ditch at the west of the enclosure may have been thrown into it by the site inhabitants when they abandoned the site.

There does not seem to have been any subsequent occupational periods. The surrounding plots of land all seem to have been exclusively dedicated to agriculture from this final phase onwards.

Aurélien SARTOU, 2009.