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Origin and history

The Péran camp, located in Pledran in the Côtes-d'Armor, is a major archaeological site covering several periods, from the Gaulish period to the Middle Ages. Its fortifications, partially vitrified by a fire, make it a rare example of protohistoric defensive architecture. The site, classified as a historical monument in 1875, was studied in the 19th century, with excavations revealing traces of Gaulish, Roman and Viking occupation.

The first records of the site date back to the early 19th century, under the name of Pierres Brûlées. Between 1820 and 1866, local scholars such as A. Maudet de Penhouët and J. Geslin de Bourgogne conducted surveys, but their results remained unpublished. In 1861, Eugene Viollet-le-Duc hypothesized that fortifications date back to Roman times, contradicting the idea of a Gallic oppidum transformed into a Roman fort. The discovery of a nearby Roman way (Noah's Way) then fed into the debates about the origin of the site.

Between 1983 and 1990, voluntary excavations and a campaign led by Jean-Pierre Nicolardot (1991) confirmed continued occupation of the site. The remains reveal four major phases: Gaulish (La Tene), 10th century (Viking period), 13th century, and 19th century. Archaeological material, including weapons, tools and a last Viking struck in York (905–925), attests to a Scandinavian presence. The destruction of the rampart, dated by carbon 14 of the first half of the 10th century, coincides with the Viking incursions into Brittany.

The camp, with an area of 1 hectare, has five concentric defensive structures: ditches, raised ground, glacis and a masonry wall vitrified by a violent fire. The interior housed domestic buildings (gates, silos, stables) and a well of 9 m deep. The vitrification of the stones, due to the intense burning of the wood, gave the site the nickname of glass castle. Although the main entrance was not located, the site had to have several accesses.

In the 13th century, a building paved with terracotta tiles was built on the ruins of the 10th century fire, as evidenced by the coins of Alphonse de Poitiers and Duke John I of Brittany. Local folklore evokes legends, such as that of the Red Monks hiding a treasure, or a secret underground. Today, the artifacts discovered are preserved at the Saint-Brieuc Museum and in the DRAC collections. The site, owned jointly by the State and the municipality until 2008, is now managed by the departmental council.

The camp of Péran illustrates the cultural exchanges in Brittany during the early Middle Ages, especially with the Vikings. His posterity includes a representation in the Vikings comic strip, Kings of the Seas, highlighting his heritage and historical importance.

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