Excavations in Sarzeau, in the Morbihan region of western France, have revealed evidence of human activity spanning the Neolithic to the Roman era. The work was carried out by Inrap between September 2025 and February 2026 across a three-hectare area ahead of a local development project.
The earliest features on the site date to the Neolithic. Archaeologists uncovered hearths, pits and postholes, indicating settlement. Fragments of pottery and stone tools were also recovered, pointing to everyday domestic use of the area.
Burials from the Bronze Age are among the more visible elements of the site. Around a dozen graves were identified. Some are grouped together, while others are set apart. All are aligned east to west and built using blocks of mica schist. A small circular burial feature was also recorded nearby. It may have contained a central grave, but part of it was cut through by a later ditch.
Close to these burials, and near what may have been a Neolithic structure, archaeologists found stone features that could relate to supports or installations. Their purpose is not yet clear and will be examined further.
Evidence from the period between the end of the Bronze Age and the beginning of the Early Iron Age appears in the form of sunken features. These are thought to mark the presence of timber-built structures. A deposit of metal objects was also found in a ceramic vessel. It contained several socketed axes, along with two objects that may be ingots and other items still under study.
Later activity on the site dates to the Roman period, beginning in the 2nd century AD and continuing into the 3rd or possibly 4th century. A settlement occupied the highest part of the area, overlooking the nearby coast. It was enclosed within a roughly square boundary measuring about 50 metres across, defined by a deep ditch cut into the bedrock. A second enclosed section appears to have reinforced part of this space.
Little remains of the internal layout. Thin soil layers and later quarrying have removed much of the detail. However, finds recovered near the eastern side, where an entrance is thought to have been located, indicate activity just beyond the enclosure. To the east, archaeologists identified a well, traces of wall foundations and post-built structures.
Taken together, the remains show repeated use of the site over a long period. From early settlement to later enclosed occupation, the area appears to have retained its importance across different phases of prehistory and into the Roman period. Further analysis is expected to clarify how each phase relates to the next.
Header Image Credit : E. Pierre
Sources : Inrap
