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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

Tormancy's tumulus is a funerary terter of the Iron Age, specifically associated with Hallstatt's culture. Located in Massangis in the department of Yonne, it has been searched several times, revealing objects characteristic of this period, such as an iron sword, bronze debris and a fibula. These findings suggest that it was a war grave, perhaps a clan or tribe leader.

The first documented excavations date back to 1896, led by Captain Davoust, who discovered an iron sword and bronze fragments. In 1909 Marcel Bidault de l'Isle also carried out research. Finally, in 1930, Henry Corot carried out a thorough search, identifying the remains of a "stranded ciste" and confirming that the tumulus belonged to the hallstattian period.

Ranked as historical monuments by order of 5 February 1931, the tumulus of Tormancy is now protected for its archaeological importance. It illustrates the funeral practices of the warrior elites of the Iron Age in Burgundy, as well as the social organization of this period, marked by complex hierarchies and rituals.

Although administratively located under L'Isle-sur-Serein in some sources, GPS coordinates and searches clearly indicate its location in Massangis. This confusion sometimes reflects territorial breakdowns or reference errors in heritage databases.

The objects discovered, such as the fibula and bronze debris, are typical of funeral offerings of the time. They reflect the high status of the deceased, as well as the cultural and commercial exchanges between the Celtic populations of the region and other European groups during the hallstattian period.

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