Construction of oppidum VIe siècle av. J.-C. (dernier tiers) (≈ 551 av. J.-C.)
Building of ramparts and towers.
Milieu du Ve siècle av. J.-C.
End of main occupation
End of main occupation Milieu du Ve siècle av. J.-C. (≈ 450 av. J.-C.)
Gradual abandonment of the site.
IVe-IIIe siècles av. J.-C.
Sporadic attendance
Sporadic attendance IVe-IIIe siècles av. J.-C. (≈ 251 av. J.-C.)
Intermittent occupancy of the site.
28 avril 2004
Historical Monument
Historical Monument 28 avril 2004 (≈ 2004)
Protection of plots AV 69 and AV 71.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
The AV 69 and AV 71 plots containing the remains of the oppidum: by order of 28 April 2004
Key figures
Information non disponible - No character cited
The source text does not mention any named historical actor.
Origin and history
The Popidum des Mayans, located in Septèmes-les-Vallons in the Bouches-du-Rhône, is a major archaeological site of Protohistory and Antiquity. Surrounded by a fortified wall of ten square towers, it is lined internally with a wall enclosed, forming an exceptional defensive system in the Mediterranean Midi. Its construction dates back to the last third of the sixth century BC, with continuous occupation until the middle of the fifth century BC, followed by sporadic attendance in the fourth and third centuries BC.
The excavations revealed remains of ceramics attesting to indigenous habitat, while the arrangement of cells between the rampart and the enclosures suggests a cohabitation between local populations and a Greek garrison. This spatial organization could indicate a social or military stratification, with the Greeks occupying the top of the oppidum. The site thus illustrates the cultural and defensive dynamics of the region during the protohistoric period.
Ranked Historic Monument by decree of 28 April 2004, the oppidum covers plots AV 69 and AV 71, now owned by the commune. Although its location is approximate (estimated at 4/10), it remains a key testimony to the exchanges between indigenous and Mediterranean cultures in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur. Material remains, such as ceramics, provide valuable insights into lifestyles and interactions of the era.
