Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The archaeological site of the Gojat, immersed in Lake Aiguebelette near Novalaise (Savoie), dates from the final Neolithic, between the 28th and 27th centuries BC. It is part of the lakeside cities of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, demonstrating human occupation in a wetland. The remains include wooden support piles, still visible, as well as traces of habitat. These discoveries illustrate a major part of European prehistory, marking the transition between Neolithic and Bronze Age.

The excavations, carried out between 1954 and 1962, and then in 1971 and 1983, enabled to identify phases of felling of trees dated by dendrochronology in -2702 and -2699. Systematic prospecting in 1998 completed this research. The site, close to Beau-Phare (2 km away), reveals a synchronized occupation in the region. These remains, classified as a historic monument in 2015, provide valuable insights into the construction techniques and lifestyle of lake-based Neolithic communities.

The deposit is located on cadastal plot 560 of Novalaise, around the coordinates Lambert 93 (X 918 285.18 – Y 6 499 834.34). Although the remains are submerged, their study has enabled the spatial organisation of habitats to be partially reconstructed, with stilt buildings, typical of alpine lake towns. The approximate location (15 Route du Lac, Saint-Alban-de-Montbel) and the cartographic accuracy considered fair (note 5/10) highlight the challenges of underwater archaeology in this context.

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