France: Mysterious horseshoe-shaped monument discovered; see pictures

A mysterious prehistoric monument has been unearthed in what experts describe as an ‘unprecedented’ find. If reports are to go by, the ancient structure was discovered during excavations conducted by the French National Institute of Preventive Archaeological Research (INRAP) in the commune of Marliens, eastern France, approximately nine miles southeast of Dijon.

The site's excavations have unveiled a succession of human settlements spanning across millennia, from the Neolithic era to the Iron Age. As per the INRAP’s press release, the oldest evidence of habitation at the site comprises a perplexing monument consisting of three interconnected enclosures.
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At the heart of the monument lies a circular enclosure measuring roughly 36 feet in diameter. Adjacent to the north, a horseshoe-shaped enclosure, extending approximately 26 ft in length, extends from the central circle. To the south, an almost square-shaped enclosure with rounded corners protrudes from the opposite side.


INRAP indicates that all three enclosures appear to be contemporary, though numerous uncertainties persist concerning the structure's purpose, character, and age.

This monument type appears to be unlike anything seen before, and as of now, no comparisons can be made, stated the INRAP in the press release.

Although the precise age of the structure remains elusive, the only associated artifacts, primarily flint objects, hint at a Neolithic origin, aligning with France's Neolithic period, which commenced around the 6th millennium BC.
Some of these artifacts are believed to be linked to the Bell Beaker culture, which emerged around 4,500 years ago, as reported by Archaeology Magazine. Additionally, archaeologists discovered traces of iron oxide on one of the armbands, likely corresponding to pyrite, a crucial element for fire ignition.

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While these objects largely suggest a burial context, confirmation of this hypothesis is pending. Ongoing analysis of the dagger's copper alloy may provide insights into its origin and illuminate trade dynamics of the period.
The site also revealed other structures, including Bronze Age wells and a necropolis featuring five circular enclosures containing burial remains and a funeral pyre.