FR-74-05
Sevrier, | Le Cret de Chatillon
Short Description
The site has the distinctive feature of being located on a shoal, 800 m from the current shore. The settlement area is about 180 m long and 50 m wide, currently under 4 m of water, and surrounded by 40 m depths. It was discovered in 1856, and was the subject of various interventions from 1970 to 2000. Current surveys show a dense occupation of the entire space, with an organization along two orthogonal axes. A picket fence follows the edge of the island. Erosion is a considerable danger, but recent studies show that the archaeological layers still remain protected.
Special Features & Highlights
Archaeological remains are few, due to heavy erosion, but in 1967 a logboat was discovered, and a set of thick fired clay fragments were spotted. These fragments were collected in 1974, and reassembledinto a structure with a diameter of 70 cm and a height of 50 cm. It is in two parts, has a perforated hearth at the base, and a chimney at the top. The interpretation as a pottery kiln has recently been called into question, with a functional hypothesis related to culinary uses.
During recent work, various objects have been discovered, like bronze knives, bracelets, spearhead, pendants and rings, as well as millstones and hammerstones. A remarkable point is the discovery of a dozen pebbles with peripheral grooves, which were only known from a very few examples in the Savoie lakes.
Pile Dwellings up close
The kiln and a selection of artifacts are on exhibition at the Musée Château d'Annecy, in the rooms of the Regional Observatory of Alpine Lakes.
Musée Château d’Annecy
Place du château
74000 Annecy
+33 (0)4 50 33 87 30 / +33 (0)4 50 33 87 34
musees@annecy.fr / reservation.animations@annecy.fr
to the website
Bronze Age
Late Bronze Age, 1100/1050 and 917 à 900 B.C.
Annecy Lake
443 m.a.s.l.
Size of the site:
1,07 ha / approx. 1-2 soccer pitches
Size of the bufferzone:
8,2 ha / approx. 11 soccer pitches
