Logo Musée du Patrimoine

All French heritage classified by regions, departments and cities

Archaeological site of La Maxe en Moselle

Patrimoine classé
Sites archéologique
Moselle

Archaeological site of La Maxe

    12 Rue de la Lignière
    57140 La Maxe

Timeline

Âge du Bronze
Âge du Fer
Antiquité
Haut Moyen Âge
XIXe siècle
Époque contemporaine
1400 av. J.-C.
1300 av. J.-C.
100 av. J.-C.
400
900
0
1900
2000
1800-1000 av. J.-C.
Bronze Age
vers 5000 av. J.-C.
Ancient Neolithic
Ier siècle av. J.-C.
The Final Tene
Ier-IVe siècle
Gallo-Roman period
VIIIe-IXe siècle
High Middle Ages
19 mai 1998
Official protection
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui

Heritage classified

Archaeological site, placed La Grange d'Anvie (cad. 5 7, placed La Ligneère ; 2 180/30, placed La Ligneère, 181/30, placed Pré de la Ligneère, 373/30, from east to west to the limit of the extension to the south of the eastern delimitation of Parcel 183, placed Pré de la Ligneère): inscription by order of 19 May 1998

Key figures

Information non disponible - No character cited Sources do not mention any historical actors.

Origin and history

The archaeological site of La Maxe, located east of the village on a micro-relief overlooking the Moselle Valley, bears witness to an uninterrupted human occupation since the ancient Neolithic period (c. 5000 BC). The excavations revealed habitat structures, pits and artifacts dated to Neolithic, Bronze Age, La Tene, and Gallo-Roman and medieval remains. The topography of the site, protected from the Moselle floods, explains its sustainable attractiveness for successive populations.

The Gallo-Roman period is marked by a large rural settlement, partially excavated between 1995 and 1996. Discoveries include post buildings, a first-century cellar, walls, a hypocauste (heating system), and marble fragments attesting to luxurious decoration. These remains, abandoned in the fourth century, were reused during the occupation of the High Middle Ages, between the eighth and ninth centuries, during which period artisanal huts, silos and tools (textile, bone) were discovered.

The site, known since the 15th century by historical sources, was identified in 1991 by aerial prospecting. The preventive excavations of 1995-1996 confirmed the density of the structures, especially around the Gallo-Roman remains, suggesting a reuse of the ancient foundations. Enlisted as historical monuments in 1998, it offers exceptional archaeological potential to study the ancient settlement of the Moselle Valley, from Neolithic to Carolingian times.

The precise location of the site, near the place known as Granged Anvie, covers about 6 hectares on a slight eminence (165 m NGF). The survey and excavation campaigns have made it possible to date precisely the occupations: Ancient Neolithic (Recent Romanian), Bronze Age (1800-1000 BC), Final Tena (I century BC), Gallo-Roman Period (I-IVth century), and High Middle Ages (VIII-IXth centuries). The overlay of habitats reveals rare cultural and functional continuity in rural areas.

External links