Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Henri Prades Archaeological Museum was born from the fortuitous discovery of the Lattara site in 1963, during agricultural works. The first excavations, conducted by Henri Prades and the Painlevé Archaeological Group, revealed a major deposit for the study of the Gallo-Roman and southern Gaulian civilizations. The mobilization of the public authorities (State, Languedoc-Roussillon region, Department of the Hérault and municipality of Lattes) led in 1974 to the acquisition of the site and the creation of an archaeological center integrated in the former Mas Saint-Sauveur, a farm which belonged to the family of painter Frédéric Bazille in the 19th century.

The museum, inaugurated in 1986, was first classified and labeled "Musée de France" in 2002. Installed in a building designed by architect Joseph Massota, it preserves a fountain dedicated to Bazille and exhibits collections from the excavations of Lattara, covering 7 centuries of history (VIth century BC – 3rd century BC). The objects presented illustrate exchanges with the Etruscans and Greeks of Marseilles, daily life, beliefs and local crafts, such as tabletry or metallurgy. Since 2006, the museum has been run by the community of Montpellier.

The Lattara site, a former lagoon port on the Lez delta, was a major commercial hub between Gaul, Etruscan and Massaliotes. The permanent collections trace its evolution, from the first Etruscan amphoras (VIth century B.C.) to Romanization (Ist century A.D.), through funeral steles and statues such as the warrior of Lattes. The museum also participates in the Iron Age Europe network, alongside Swiss or German institutions, to promote the Iron Age in Europe.

A rehabilitation project, planned for 2026, aims to modernize the spaces with a gazebo, virtual reality tools, and an archaeological park planted with ancient essences. The reserves, installed in an old cellar (cave Bonnier), store the furniture resulting from the excavations, while the temporary exhibitions address various themes, such as "The Etruscans in all letters" (2015) or "Lagunary navigation" (2018). The museum remains a key player in research, with a documentation centre and laboratories on site.

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