BIBRACTE, ARCHEOLOGICAL SITE AND HISTORY :

Bibracte is, according to César, "the largest and the richest city of Eduens" (César, Bellum Gallicum, I, 23). It was the place of various important episodes of the War of Gaules: César demolishes the people of helvète with his proximity in 58 front. J.-C., a Gallic coalition carried out by Vercingétorix binds to it against the Roman invader during the winter 53-52; the Roman General remains there finally with various recaptures, in particular during autumn 52. Bibracte is located in a final way on the Mount Beuvray (communes of Saint-Leger-under-Beuvray, Larochemillay and Glux-in-Glenne, departments of Nievre and Saone-et-Loire) since the archaeological excavations carried out between 1867 and 1907 byJacques-Gabriel Bulliot then by Joseph Déchelette. Since 1984, the site is again the object of a great research project, which associates archaeologists from various European countries. The results are presented on the spot in a museum of Celtic civilization, while the product of the old excavations is visible in Autun (Rolin museum) and Saint-Germain-en-Laye (museum of the National antiquities). Located at 25 km of Autun, whose site accomodates, one half-century after the Roman conquest, the new Gallo-Roman capital of Eduens, Augustodunum, the Beuvray mount, which culminates to 821 m, is a bastion of the solid mass of Morvan. Today covered with forests, Bibracte is perfect representing oppida, these vast strengthened agglomerations which strew Europe in IIe and Ier front S.. J.-C. It is girdled of a monumental, long fortification of 5 km, made of a rampart armed with beams and faced stones (murus gallicus) preceded by a ditch, opened from several doors. The surface which encloses (135 ha) ,seems mainly occupied by dwellings in first front S.. J.-C. It was larger still (200 ha): recent research indeed showed that the site was initially girdled by a wider rampart. The releases of vestiges on great surfaces make it possible to measure the progressive impact of the "romanisation", started well before the Roman conquest on the site of the capital of Eduens, a population which had concluded a treaty of alliance with Rome at the medium of IIe front S.. J.-C. The oppidum is crossed by several ways which structure the town planning.
In a first phase (end of II c./beginning of Ist front S.. J.-C.), architecture uses the ground and wood only. The Mediterranean techniques of building are introduced starting from the medium of Ist front S.. J.-C. One observes finally the building of roomy houses following a Roman plan, at the end of the same century and the beginning of the following. The public places are still badly identified. One knows several fountains and basins, with monumental building very often. Lastly, the excavations of XIXth century located a vast building which seems identifiable to a market or a warehouse. The aspect of Bibracte thus remains resolutely different from that of a"traditional" Gallo-Roman city by its topographic situation, its fortifications and its regular town planning. In addition to its proven role of political capital of Eduens, the city is also an important economic center. Its richness comes mainly from the trade with the Mediterranean areas. Most visible is the wine, imported from Italy. The excavations also show that the oppidum is a very active place of commercial transactions, where the use of currency is daily. Eventually, it is also a place of production. One indeed update a great number of metallurgical workshops, where craftsmen shaped objects out of copper iron or alloys. The site seems to completely lose its residential function from the very start of IstS. af. J.-C.
At the Middle Ages and the modern time, the site still accomodates an annual fair of great importance, attested since XIIIth century. finally, benefiting of the calm of the places, a franciscan monastery founded in XIVth c which will be abandoned two centuries later.