Construction of fortified village IXe siècle av. J.-C. (≈ 851 av. J.-C.)
Start of the oppidum on the hill.
début VIe siècle av. J.-C.
Back to Oppidum
Back to Oppidum début VIe siècle av. J.-C. (≈ 596 av. J.-C.)
Construction of a stone rampart.
vers 2740 av. J.-C.
First human occupation
First human occupation vers 2740 av. J.-C. (≈ 100 av. J.-C.)
Semi-nomadic shepherds on the site.
vers 700 av. J.-C.
Temporary abandonment of Cayla
Temporary abandonment of Cayla vers 700 av. J.-C. (≈ 100 av. J.-C.)
Move to the plain (The Crossing).
fin Ier siècle av. J.-C.
Destruction by the Romans
Destruction by the Romans fin Ier siècle av. J.-C. (≈ 5 av. J.-C.)
Assumed Roman repression.
IIe siècle après J.-C.
Final withdrawal
Final withdrawal IIe siècle après J.-C. (≈ 250)
End of occupation after Romanization.
1960-1961
Historical monument classification
Historical monument classification 1960-1961 (≈ 1961)
Protection of remains by stop.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Parcel containing ancient remains of the oppidum (Box C 259): classification by decree of 6 November 1961; Two portions of land, delimited in red on the boundary plane, containing part of the ancient remains of the oppidum (Box C 596): classification by decree of 21 November 1960; Parcels containing remains of the oppidum (C 252, 254, 255, 257, 258, 260 to 271, 595): by order of 23 November 1960
Key figures
Odette Taffanel - Archaeologist
Search the necropolis of Cayla.
Jean Taffanel - Archaeologist
Search the necropolis of Cayla.
Pierre Sejalon - Historian/archaeologist
Analysis of Roman destruction.
Origin and history
The Cayla Oppidum, located in the commune of Mailhac in Aude, is an emblematic archaeological site whose occupation dates back to the Age of the Final Bronze (c. 2740 BC). The excavations revealed an ancient human presence, marked by migrations from Spain bringing copper metallurgy. These people have integrated into local communities, laying the foundations for a sustainable occupation of the site.
From the 9th century BC, a fortified village was built on Cayla Hill, occupied until the 2nd century AD, despite successive interruptions and destructions. Around 700 B.C., the site is temporarily abandoned to a habitat on the plain (Le Traversant), where the appearance of iron and a hierarchical society are attested. The return to the oppidum in the sixth century BC coincides with the construction of a stone rampart, making Cayla one of the most important oppida of the Mediterranean Languedoc.
Oppidum is part of the Church civilization, open to Phoenician, Etruscan, Greek and Roman influences. The Elisych, a cereal producer, traded iron, silver and copper against Mediterranean products (wine, oil, ceramics) and Celtic objects. The necropolis discovered near the village reveals various funeral practices, including incineration, and a social evolution, first egalitarian and then hierarchical.
Romanization led to the permanent abandonment of the site around the 2nd century AD. The excavations, carried out notably by Odette and Jean Taffanel, allowed to document this complex history, marked by fires (Ve, Ve and III centuries BC) and a destruction attributed to a Roman repression at the end of the first century BC. The site is classified as a historical monument in 1960 and 1961, thus preserving an exceptional archaeological heritage.
Archaeological works highlight the similarities between the evolution of Cayla and that of other oppida élisyques, such as Ensérune or Montlaurès. These sites share a hybrid culture, mixing local traditions and Mediterranean contributions, illustrating the commercial and cultural dynamics of the region before the Roman conquest.
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