The findings are in unusually good condition due to high humidity levels in the soilPic: Zichrini / Shutterstock
Posted on 11/07/2021 9:12:16 AM PST by SunkenCiv
A medieval port has been discovered in a 2,500m2 building site and archaeological dig surrounding a chateau in Vendée, western France.
Among the discoveries are a large number of oak beams that are extremely well preserved thanks to the levels of underground humidity in Talmont-Saint-Hilaire, where the dig has been taking place...
Archaeologists have already been able to identify a river bank and a gutter on the site.
As the Atlantic coastline is only a few kilometres away from the site, an initial hypothesis is that boats and ships could have transported merchandise and people to the chateau from England or even Spain, between the 10th and 16th centuries.
Archaeologist Stéphane Augry said: “We can see clearly that the stones that were brought here to build the chateau come from four kilometres away, and transporting them here by boat would have been much easier...
Other findings include artefacts that indicate there was a strong wine trade in the area, including remnants of grape must (freshly crushed grape juice including the skin, seeds and stems of the fruit).
A metal pilgrims medal has also been discovered, indicating a fishing trade and economic exchange.
(Excerpt) Read more at connexionfrance.com ...
The findings are in unusually good condition due to high humidity levels in the soilPic: Zichrini / Shutterstock
During the Medieval Warming period, sealevels were higher, so the ports of that time are sometimes found high and dry, as here. Climate is 100% natural 100% of the time.
If they dig a few meters to the right they should discover the starboard side.
Whadda ya think a 1000 year old port goes for?
1. Archaeologists have already been able to identify a river bank and a gutter on the site.
2. the Atlantic coastline is only a few kilometres away from the site
3. boats and ships could have transported merchandise and people to the chateau from England or even Spain
4. the stones that were brought to build the chateau come from four kilometres away, and transporting them here by boat would have been much easier.
5. a metal pilgrims medal has also been discovered, indicating a fishing trade and economic exchange.
It seems like they are postulating that the port was a RIVER port and the stones were transported up the river. Does the evidence of fishing trade suggest that ocean fishing vessels sent their catch up-river by boat? Or maybe some fisherman lived in this port town just lost his pilgrim's medal there? Fishermen certainly wouldn't commute to the coast several kilometers away for their daily work.
Or was this possibly an ocean coastal port and the ocean levels have dropped a lot in 1,000 years?
At first I was wondering what 1,000 year old Port would taste like.
The River changing course as it silts up is more likely.
Removed from history because it is the first incidence in history of a socialist revolution committing mass murder of those who resist.
It would pretty much have to be in west France, wouldn’t it?
I figured that was probably the reason. Interesting that they didn’t dredge it to keep it open. Maybe just too much silt for the then-current technology.
It’s also possible that once the place was built and they no longer needed it to transport a lot of stone the importance of the port diminished over time.
Maybe it wasn’t a river bank. Could it be a canal bank and they constructed the canal to transport the stone? Then they filled in the canal after its job was done?
Interesting speculations.
Thanks. Interesting read. I always thought of the French Revolution as a blood sport of socialism. I’m not sure how or when that belief was obtained. It was always with me. Just think about how different the American and French Revolutions really were and the impact on the modern world.
They found port but no chardonnay?..........................
The wine they found was a blend, a sort of portmanteau wine...
Excellent! It gave them an advintage!.........................
I've always had my doubts about the Anjou '22.
LOL
In France, just finding one older than 20 has to be challenging...
The coastline of the time left "fossil" traces, so it's generally available info, but I dunno if that's been done here. That has worked in other places, like the east coast of England.
922 or 1022?.................or just 22?....................
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