Oppidum du Fossé des Pandours, Celtic archaeological site at Col de Saverne, France
The Oppidum du Fossé des Pandours is a Celtic fortified settlement that spreads across three hilltops near Saverne, protected by substantial defensive embankments. The site was densely inhabited and included distinct areas for housing, craft production, and daily activities.
The settlement emerged during the late Iron Age as a significant Celtic center and remained inhabited until Roman conquest transformed the region. After Roman occupation, the site's role and purpose shifted substantially.
This place served as a major production center for Celtic craftspeople, where metalworkers created jewelry and tools that visitors can still see in museums today. The objects found there reveal the advanced skills of those who lived here.
Visitors can explore the vast terrain on foot following marked trails that lead through different sections of the settlement. Spring and autumn offer the most comfortable conditions for walking across the hillsides and viewing the defensive structures.
The defensive wall was built using murus gallicus technique, an advanced construction method combining dressed stone with wooden beams for added strength. This engineering approach made it exceptionally resistant to battering and siege weapons.
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