Timeline

Heritage classified

Origin and history

The protohistoric camp of Macaye is a monument located in the commune of the same name, in the department of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques (64), in the region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine. This site, dated from the Protohistory, is characterized by an enclosure with earth parapets, typical of the fortifications of this period. It bears witness to the techniques of defense and spatial organization of local populations before antiquity.

The remains of the camp, protected by a registration order in 1980, include structural elements such as ramparts and ditches. These developments reflect an organized human occupation, probably linked to the need for territorial protection or control. The approximate location of the site, reported near Mocorreta, suggests a strategic location, although the available sources do not specify its exact use (habitat, refuge, place of assembly).

Protohistory in Aquitaine corresponds to a period of transition between the Bronze Age and the Iron Age, marked by the emergence of hierarchical societies and exchange networks. Fortified camps, such as Macaye's, often played a central role in defending resources or communities. Their study makes it possible to better understand the social and economic dynamics of the time, although the data specific to this site remain limited in the sources consulted.

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