Archaeologists in France have uncovered a remarkable prehistoric monument along with a plethora of artifacts spanning various historical periods during excavations in Marliens, a commune located approximately 200 miles southeast of Paris.
![Unusual horseshoe-shaped monument discovered in France](https://archaeologymag.com/wp-content/uploads/horseshoe-shaped-monument-france-1.jpg)
The excavations were carried out by archaeologists from the French National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research (INRAP), prior to the extension of a gravel pit in the Ouche Valley, a tributary of the Saone River.
At the heart of this discovery is an enigmatic monument composed of three interconnected enclosures, with a circular enclosure measuring 11 meters in diameter at its center. This horseshoe-shaped monument, with one enclosure resembling a horseshoe, is unlike anything previously encountered, leaving researchers puzzled about its age and purpose.
The presence of flint artifacts nearby suggests a possible Neolithic origin, but radiocarbon analysis is underway to determine its precise chronology.
![Unusual horseshoe-shaped monument discovered in France](https://archaeologymag.com/wp-content/uploads/horseshoe-shaped-monument-france-5.jpg)
Adjacent to this monument, artifacts from the Bell Beaker period, dating back approximately 4,500 years, were unearthed. These artifacts include seven flint arrowheads, archer’s armbands, a flint lighter, and a copper alloy dagger.
Residues of iron oxide found on one of the bracelets hint at its use in igniting fires, possibly associated with burial practices, although this hypothesis remains unconfirmed.
![Unusual horseshoe-shaped monument discovered in France](https://archaeologymag.com/wp-content/uploads/horseshoe-shaped-monument-france-2.jpg)
Further discoveries include a gravesite dating between 1500 and 1300 BCE, consisting of five circular enclosures, one of which was sealed. Within the largest enclosure, evidence of a funeral pyre was found, along with ceramic shards and an amber bead necklace.
![Unusual horseshoe-shaped monument discovered in France](https://archaeologymag.com/wp-content/uploads/horseshoe-shaped-monument-france-4.jpg)
Additionally, approximately 1,300 feet away, another gravesite revealed the cremated remains of individuals from the Iron Age, some interred with jewelry such as rings and bracelets.
The excavation, covering a total area of 60,000 square meters, also provides a unique opportunity to understand the spatial occupation and evolution of this area over time.
![Unusual horseshoe-shaped monument discovered in France](https://archaeologymag.com/wp-content/uploads/horseshoe-shaped-monument-france-3.jpg)
Palynological and carpological analyses of clay layers at the bottom of pits dating to the Early Bronze Age offer valuable information about the region’s natural history.