Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Lake of Annecy, located in Sévrier in Haute-Savoie, is a submerged archaeological site dating from the Ancient Bronze Age (XIXth–XVIIIth centuries BC). It is one of the lakeside cities studied in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, revealing remains of human occupation in a wetland, including piles of support of wood habitat still visible. These discoveries, ranging from Neolithic to Bronze Age, illustrate a major part of European prehistory, with an architectural organization comparable to that of the village of Concise-sous-Colachoz (Neuchatel Lake).

The site was reported only in 1989, but subsequent studies have highlighted excellent conservation of built structures. The remains, protected since 2011, cover an area of 28 × 41 meters and offer a rare testimony of construction techniques and prehistoric lake life. Their late discovery contrasts with their importance in understanding Alpine protohistoric societies.

The piles and traces of habitat, immersed off the banks of Sévrier, have been classified as historical monuments since 2011. Their study helped establish parallels with other contemporary lake sites, highlighting cultural and technical uniformity in the region at that time. The site remains an emblematic example of human adaptation to aquatic environments during prehistory.

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