Estimated construction 2400 av. J.-C. (≈ 100 av. J.-C.)
Fortified village among the oldest
1954
Site discovery
Site discovery 1954 (≈ 1954)
By Dr. Jean Arnal
11 octobre 1965
Historical monument classification
Historical monument classification 11 octobre 1965 (≈ 1965)
Protection of archaeological remains
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Archaeological vestiges of the Château du Lebous and its enclosure (cad. A 236): classification by order of 11 October 1965
Key figures
Jean Arnal - Archaeologist and Discoverer
Identified and studied the site
Origin and history
The Château du Lébous is a prehistoric fortified village located in the commune of Saint-Mathieu-de-Treviers, in the department of l'Hérault. Discovered in 1954 by Dr.Jean Arnal, this site dates back to about 2400 BC, making it one of the oldest buildings of this type in France. The enclosure, with ten round towers, delimits a space having sheltered a community over several centuries, notably the final Neolithic, linked to the culture of Fontbouisse.
The site was classified as historic monuments in 1965, but access to it remains restricted due to its location on private land. The vestiges, now partially swallowed by vegetation, are evidence of a prolonged occupation, from the Chalcolithic to the Gallo-Roman period. The excavations and studies conducted by Jean Arnal and his collaborators have documented his architecture and role in the prehistoric social organization.
Archaeological research, published in specialized journals such as Gallia Préhistoire or the Bulletin de la Société préhistoire de France, underlines the importance of Lebous in understanding the dynamics of habitat and defence at that time. The site thus illustrates the cultural and technological transitions between Neolithic and Bronze Age, in an area with a high prehistoric population density.
