Initial construction Âge du bronze final (≈ 1010 av. J.-C.)
First construction of the rampart.
Haut Moyen Âge
Recent adjustments
Recent adjustments Haut Moyen Âge (≈ 738)
Adaptations before the church and mansion.
2 octobre 1996
Registration Historic Monument
Registration Historic Monument 2 octobre 1996 (≈ 1996)
Legal protection of remains.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
The remains (cf. Yainville AD 223, 224, 321; AC 90 to 93, 251, 252, 458 to 464, 566, 567, 563; Jumièges F 4, 214, 219 to 222): entry by order of 2 October 1996
Origin and history
The Saint-Philibert ditch is a historic monument located in Yainville, also extending over the town of Jumièges. This rampart, about 2.5 km long, barred the Jumièges peninsula, forming a barred meander-like trench. Its construction dates back to the age of the final bronze, with significant redevelopments in the Second Iron Age and then in the High Middle Ages. The remains, still visible for several hundred meters, testify to its strategic importance throughout the eras.
The site is characterized by a ditch and a rise of land, prior to the construction of a church and manor house in the Upper Middle Ages. These elements suggest continuous occupation and adaptation of defences over the centuries. The Saint-Philibert ditch thus illustrates the evolution of fortification techniques, from the Protohistory to the medieval period, in a geographical context marked by the Seine loop.
Ranked as a Historic Monument, the site was registered by decree on 2 October 1996. The protected remains cover plots on the municipalities of Yainville and Jumièges, with a property shared between private actors, the municipality, and a public establishment of the State. The location of the monument, although documented, has an accuracy considered satisfactory a priori (note of 6/10), reflecting the mapping challenges for this type of archaeological site.
The absence of sources detailing the precise uses of the bulwark or its possible links to specific historical events limits the understanding of its exact role. However, its structure and location suggest a defensive or territorial control function, typical of barred meander cuts. These developments were often associated with sedentary communities seeking to secure strategic areas, such as river peninsulas.
No information is available on public access, visit to the site, or related services (rent, accommodation). Current data focus on its physical description, its architectural history, and its legal protection status. Future research could further inform its integration into the Norman historical landscape, including its relations with neighbouring sites such as Jumièges Abbey.
