Site archéologique de hauteur fortifié du Camp d'Affrique

English translation

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History

About ten kilometres to the south of Nancy, the Camp d'Affrique is situated in a wood at the south-east extremity of the plateau of Haye. This plateau, terminated to the south by a cliff of twenty metres and terraces which descend to the valley of the Moselle, dominates the valley by 200 metres (altitude of 405 m). At this location, it forms a salient at a right angle, one side of which overlooks the Moselle and the other the distant course of the Meurthe. The site is installed on the edge of a cuesta whose upper part is composed of limestones with polyps and entrochites from the Bajocian period, surmounting sandy limestones. At the foot of the cliffs, several layers of oolitic iron ore (Lorraine minette) were exploited in the 19th century and at the beginning of the 20th century. The Camp d'Affrique has been known since the 16th century (letter from M. de Chateau-Roux in 1532). In the 18th century, Dom Calmet (1756) and Durival (1778) describe it as a Roman camp. This site subsequently attracted several archaeologists in the 19th century (Beaulieu in 1840, Cournault in 1885 and Barthélémy in 1889). Interested in the site from 1889, J. Beaupré had it classified among "sites and monuments of artistic character". Between 1901 and 1912, he carried out excavations there which enabled him to date the construction of the ramparts to the end of the Hallstatt period thanks to the finds collected. The most recent research is due to J.P. Lagadec, who carried out a survey there in 1980 and planned excavations from 1981 to 1988. These latter excavations made it possible to place the beginning of occupation in the course of the 5th century (Hallstatt D3) and the abandonment of the site during the 4th century before our era (La Tène B1). The enclosure, of the "plateau edge" type, rests on the cliff and the eastern slope of the plateau's projection. Its shape corresponds to a right-angled trapezium, with rounded angles, two sides of which would be slightly broken. It measures 360 m in its greatest length and 225 m wide (i.e. a surface area of 7 hectares), and is completed along the slope by a second rectangular enclosure of approximately 220 m long by 70 m wide. Called "Vieux Marché", this surface area of 1.5 hectares, below the first enclosure, may appear as an annex. The main fortification consists of two successive ramparts, each preceded by a ditch of 2 m depth. These ramparts, parallel and 5 m high, are dissimilar in their mode of construction. The outer rampart is constituted by the spoil materials from the ditch whereas the inner rampart, composed of a layer of calcined limestone covered with stones and earth, rests on an earth embankment of 1.5 m high. The annex of "Vieux Marché" is protected only by a rampart of 3 m high preceded by a ditch, in extension of the outer defensive wall of the main enclosure. The rampart which encompasses this annex appears to be composed of irregular limestone blocks. It would seem that its original entrance is to be found on the eastern side of the rampart, next to a well, at the foot of the access ramp. The space enclosed by the fortification revealed traces of occupation in the north-east angle. Six post holes, with a diameter varying from 0.15 to 0.30 m and a depth of 0.15 to 0.40 m, are of circular or oval shape. They delimit an almost rectangular building of 6 m long by approximately 3 m wide. Two hearth areas, one oval and one circular, are found in the southern part of the building. An angle of two stone and earth wall footings was uncovered in the northern sector of the excavation. The first footing, oriented west-east, measures 3 m long by 0.75 m wide. The second footing, oriented south-north, is perpendicular to the first. It measures 0.70 m wide and 6 m long. Two other hearth areas are situated in the southern sector. A third, of 1 m diameter, is placed in the extension of one of the lines of post holes. The abundant archaeological material found in association with these structures made it possible to study the activities of the inhabitants of the Camp d'Affrique. The numerous grain mills testify to the cultivation of cereals and their transformation into flour. The animal bones found on the site show a predominantly pastoral practice, the species from hunting being poorly represented. Fragments of crucibles, droplets of bronze (2 to 10 mm in diameter) and a few casting jets are traces of the smelting of this metal. Pieces of fine bronze sheet bearing traces of cutting, bituminous material (used to fix coral beads in the cups of fibulae) and several tools demonstrate the existence of a workshop for the manufacture and decoration of bronze ornamental objects. The abundance of fibulae and pins moreover allows us to envisage their production in this workshop. A few slags, results of the reduction of iron ore, demonstrate that this metal was also produced on site, even if the production workshop is outside the excavated zone. Axes, nails and gimlets testify to woodworking. A knife with a curved blade is probably a basketmaker's knife, the sole evidence of basketwork which is still present today in the valley of the Moselle. Finally, the considerable quantity of spindle whorls and needles with eyes allows us to add to all these activities the working of textiles. Weapons, tools, toiletries and ceramic vessels complete this important set of moveable objects. This site, dating from the period from Hallstatt D3 to La Tène B1, presents a particular interest because it represents a coherent set of fortifications occupied during a relatively restricted period. It should be emphasised that the deliberate calcination of the rampart is identical to that which can be observed on the fortified hilltop sites of la Fourasse at Champigneulles and the butte of Sainte-Geneviève at Essey-les-Nancy (Meurthe-et-Moselle). The other interest of this site is that it presents traces of permanent habitation, with evidence of dense and continuous occupation, as well as of a flourishing craft industry.