A major archaeological discovery has just been made at Cap d’Erquy, in the Côtes d’Armor. The remains of a circular Iron Age village have been unearthed using revolutionary satellite imaging technology.
Developed by INRAE (National Institute for e-realistic Archaeological Research) and called “LiDAR”, this technology uses lasers to scan the ground and create volume reconstructions of unrivaled precision. This process makes it possible to detect buried structures invisible to the naked eye and without resorting to invasive excavations.
A Forgotten Gallic Village
The village discovered at Cap d’Erquy is made up of around twenty circular huts arranged around a central square. Archaeologists estimate that this village was occupied between the 8th and 5th centuries BC by a Gallic community.
“This is an exceptional discovery which allows us to better understand the daily life of the Gauls at the time of the First Iron Age,” explains Jean-Yves Peskebrel, archaeologist at INRAE. These technologies open up a new imagination, it’s very moving.”
A Promising Technology
The discovery of the village of Cap d’Erquy is another spectacular illustration of the potential of LiDAR technology for archaeology. This technology opens the way to major new discoveries and makes it possible to explore archaeological sites inaccessible through traditional excavations.
“LiDAR is a real revolution for archaeology,” enthuses Jean-Yves Peskebrel. “This technology will allow us to discover important…
