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Origin and history

The feudal motte of Toutencourt is a typical example of the castral mots, the earth fortifications that appeared between the 10th and 12th centuries in Western Europe. These structures, composed of a truncated terrace surrounded by a ditch, served as both a seigneurial residence, a symbol of power and a defence against Viking or Sarrasin raids. Their rapid and inexpensive construction, using local materials (land, wood), made it a key tool of feudalization, allowing the lords to place their authority on rural territories.

Archaeological excavations at the Tutencourt site revealed significant remains: a wooden tower associated with a courtine, ancillary buildings (including cellars), and a water pipe system. The sandstone-built motte was accompanied by a lowyard bounded by a enclosure, typical of the mote and bailey architecture. These discoveries confirm its role in the medieval spatial organization, where the motte castle structured the economic and social landscape, protecting people and controlling local exchanges.

The motte of Toutencourt is part of a broader historical context: that of the feudal revolution of the 10th–12th centuries, marked by the fragmentation of Carolingian power and the emergence of a war aristocracy. The castral mots, like this one, materialized the seigneurial ban and served as a pivot for the growing terroirs, stimulating clearing and trade. Their decline, from the 12th century, coincided with the advent of stone castles, more resistant to sieges and fires, and with the progressive centralization of royal power.

Classified as a historic monument in 2012, the motte of Toutencourt is today a preserved testimony of this pivotal period. Its archaeological study, combined with the commitment of local associations, has made it possible to enhance this heritage, often threatened by erosion or modern developments. The site thus illustrates the evolution of the military and social techniques of the Middle Ages, while stressing the importance of terrestrial fortifications in the genesis of the European feudal landscape.

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