Continuous site occupancy Néolithique à Époque moderne (≈ 4100 av. J.-C.)
Habitat and certified craft activities.
12 septembre 1924
Historical monument classification
Historical monument classification 12 septembre 1924 (≈ 1924)
Official protection of the fortified village.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Fortified village and remains of prehistoric dwellings of La Roche: by order of 12 September 1924
Key figures
Delort - Archaeologist
Search the site of La Roche.
Pagès-Allary - Archaeologist
Search the site of La Roche.
Origin and history
The fortified village of La Roche is an archaeological site located in the commune of Murat, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. Located about 1,190 metres above sea level on the eastern foothills of the Cantal Mountains, it once belonged to the former municipality of Chastel-sur-Murat. This site, occupied without interruption from the Neolithic to the modern Epoch, revealed a varied archaeological furniture, including cut flints, polished axes in cineritis, fibrolite and Basanite, as well as fragments of ceramics and grinding wheels.
The excavations carried out by Delort and Pagès-Allary revealed these remains, reflecting a continuous human occupation over several millennia. Of the 25 exhumed axes, the majority are made from local materials such as cineritis or fibrolite, reflecting the resources and know-how of prehistoric populations. These discoveries illustrate the importance of the site as a place of life and artisanal activity from Neolithic times.
The fortified village and its remains of prehistoric dwellings were classified as historical monuments by order of 12 September 1924, recognizing their exceptional heritage value. The site is now owned by the municipality and offers a valuable testimony of lifestyles and construction techniques of prehistoric and ancient times in this volcanic region.
The location of the site, on a high point in the Cantal Mountains, suggests a strategic role, probably linked to the defence and control of the surrounding territories. Gallo-Roman remains also indicate a prolonged occupation, marking the transition between metal ages and antiquity. These elements make it a key place to understand the evolution of human societies in the Central Massif.
Available sources, including Merimée bases and Wikipedia contributions, confirm the scientific importance of the site. Although the accuracy of its location is estimated to be poor (level 5/10), the archaeological data collected make it a reference for the study of fortified habitats in Auvergne. The Insee code of the associated commune, 15138, permanently links the site to the department of Cantal.
