Site occupancy Néolithique (période générale) (≈ 4100 av. J.-C.)
Habitats, necropolises and agricultural activities over 3,000 years
Néolithique final
Discovered collective burials
Discovered collective burials Néolithique final (≈ 2770 av. J.-C.)
Exceptionally preserved funeral complex
5 mars 1998
Site protection
Site protection 5 mars 1998 (≈ 1998)
Registration by ministerial decree
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Neolithic site (cad. B 1 to 3, placed Le Poirier, 7, 26 to 28, placed Le Pont de Pierre, 9 to 12, 66, 90, placed Le Jonquoire, 60, 88, placed La Ferme de l'Evêché, 62, 65, placed l'Ile aux Prêtres, and the plots of the public domain at the said places Le Jonquoire and l'Ile aux Prêtres adjacent to the banks of the Oise River): inscription by order of 5 March 1998
Key figures
Information non disponible - No character cited
The source text does not mention any historical actor named
Origin and history
The archaeological site of Pont-Sainte-Maxence is located in a meander of the Oise, offering a unique geomorphological context. Its sedimentary deposits, which are 5 metres high, contain remains ranging from ancient Neolithic to final, including remarkably preserved collective burials. This site has benefited from an agreement between the Regional Archaeology Service and sandstone operators, allowing extensive excavations.
Records reveal a juxtaposition of habitat, necropolis and farm areas. Near the river, stratigraphy reaches five metres, with peat covering about 3,000 years, from ancient Neolithic to the end. The invention of theearry marks a sedimentary change, passing from peat to silt, providing valuable data on the organization of the terroir, habitat and agricultural practices.
However, the excavations encountered difficulties, particularly for necropolises damaged by later fires. On the other hand, the mounds of the terroir provided exceptionally well-preserved environmental and hydraulic information. These data are used to reconstruct the lifestyles, land use and landscape dynamics of this period.
The site, protected by decree of 5 March 1998, covers several private and public parcels, including such places as Le Poirier, Le Pont de Pierre or L'Île aux Prêtres. His study illustrates the evolution of neolithic societies in the Oise Valley, between adaptation to the river environment and development of innovative agricultural practices.
The location, although located near Houdancourt (approximately latitude/longitude: 38 Saint-Georges), remains imprecise (level 5/10 according to Mérimée). The site is not open to the public, but its scientific importance lies in the richness of its sedimentary and funerary archives, offering a rare testimony about Neolithic in Picardia (now Hauts-de-France).
The data come mainly from excavations related to sandstone farms, stressing the importance of collaborations between archaeologists and industrial actors for the preservation of heritage. This site is a reference for studying cultural and environmental transitions during the Neolithic period in North-West Europe.
