French archaeologists announced the latest results of the excavations, which after half a century was renewed in the famous Celtic tomb “Lady weeks”. The scan showed that the inside of the mound may be unknown objects.
a report on the results of the last season posted on the website of the National Institute for preventive archaeological research, France (Inrap). Excavations were resumed in 2019 – for the first time since 1953, when the mysterious burial mound, archaeologists have studied Rene Geoffroy and Maurice Moisson. Even then the tomb was called “Lady weeks” – the name of the village of VIX, near which is. The monument is located in the Department of côte-d”Or in the North-Eastern Burgundy.
it is believed that it was buried by a Celtic Princess. By the way, this monument is recognized as the most significant object of the Celtic period in France. Only 66 years after the first excavations, archaeologists are once again allowed to study it.
Some mysteries have been solved but there are new. For example, confirmed the earlier assumption that in antiquity the tomb was surrounded by a wall, the height of which was one to two meters. A new study has proved that the burial complex consisted of a few powerful buildings. In addition to the walls there was a whole network of earthen ramparts.
the tomb Itself was located just below the buildings near the river Seine. In the winter of 1953, the team first excavated the burial chamber “Lady weeks”. Its walls were lined with wood, inside was a variety of luxury goods, including gold, silver and amber, as well as the remains of chariots. The rich decoration and prompted the idea that here was buried a Princess. At the time of death she was about 40 years.
the Use of drones, photogrammetry and 3D simulation should help to find out whether the mound and other graves. While archaeologists have not found such, but geophysical surveys helped determine the initial size and shape of the tomb. Its diameter was 40 meters. The burial chamber was placed under a dome of earth and stone.
the Internal structure of the mound, as it is now revealed, it was pretty difficult. GPR data indicate the possible presence of some objects. It was also found that the construction of the necropolis was used huge boulders, brought from a distance, and they obviously had to smuggle across the Seine. This suggests that he was involved very significant resources.
a Big surprise for archaeologists was the discovery of a square platform, built of huge stone blocks. The purpose of this object remains a mystery. According to one version, it could be a pedestal for the sculpture. However, so far not found��about even traces of such.
during the excavations the archaeologists also found a trench, dug by their predecessors in 1953. It was excavated artifacts, which 66 years ago, the researchers apparently did not notice. In particular, land was removed from the iron and bronze fibulae – buckles for garments.
