First human traces Paléolithique (≈ 1505000 av. J.-C.)
Hunter-gatherer camps identified on site.
Âge du bronze final
Aristocratic Centre
Aristocratic Centre Âge du bronze final (≈ 1010 av. J.-C.)
Intensive activity phase and structured occupation.
Haut-Moyen Âge
Christian place of worship
Christian place of worship Haut-Moyen Âge (≈ 1125)
Transition to a major religious role.
4 septembre 1995
Official protection
Official protection 4 septembre 1995 (≈ 1995)
Registration of historical monuments by decree.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Archaeological site (cad. AC 26, 28 to 31, 34 to 38, AE 38, 57 to 60, 63, 65 to 85, 89 to 94, 96 to 98, V 5, 6, 10 to 18, 20, 21, 23, 25, 26, 28, 29, Placed Sion Hill; AC 39, V 22, 32, 33, placed les Grands Champs): registration by order of 4 September 1995
Key figures
Information non disponible - No historical character cited
The source text does not mention any specific actors.
Origin and history
The archaeological site of Sion Hill is a protohistoric complex located on a hilltop in the land of Saintois, on the coast of Moselle, in the commune of Saxon-Sion (Great East). This strategic place has delivered traces of unbroken human occupation, from Paleolithic hunter-gatherer camps to neolithic dwellings, including a bronze age aristocratic centre and a Gaulish oppidum. Its importance continues in the Middle Ages, where it becomes a pole of Christianization.
The excavations revealed an intense occupation from the age of the final bronze, with continuous attendance at the age of iron. From the Upper Middle Ages, the site became a place of worship, marking a transition between its defensive and religious role. These discoveries illustrate the evolution of local societies, from prehistoric to late antiquity, in a region marked by cultural and economic exchanges.
The site has been protected as historic monuments since 4 September 1995, recognizing its exceptional heritage value. The remains cover a vast area including the hill of Sion and the Grands Champs, with plots belonging to private owners, the commune or associations. Its state of conservation and its location make it a key testimony of regional history, from the Neolithic to the Merovingian period.
Announcements
Please log in to post a review