Archaeologists in France have discovered an unusual horseshoe-shaped monument along with a collection of weapons and ornaments that span multiple historical periods. The site, located in Marliens in eastern France, features a large bowtie-shaped structure with a circular construction at its center measuring 36 feet in diameter. This center circlet is connected to a horseshoe-shaped structure on one side and a jug-handle-shaped feature on the other side.
The finding has been described as “unprecedented” as there are no other known sites with similar shaped constructions. The plethora of artifacts discovered at the site, including flint arrowheads, protective armbands, a flint lighter, and a copper-alloy dagger, suggest that the site was occupied during different time periods. Some objects, such as cut flint objects from a nearby ditch, may date back to the Neolithic period, while weapons could be traced to the Bell Beaker culture that emerged around 4,500 years ago.
Researchers are radiocarbon dating the artifacts to determine their ages more precisely. In addition to the horseshoe-shaped monument, the site also contains several wells from the Bronze Age, a necropolis with circular enclosures from around 1500 to 1300 B.C., and an Iron Age necropolis with urns containing cremated remains, bracelets, and rings. The discovery sheds new light on the history of the region and the cultural practices of its past inhabitants.