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The pillaging of an archaeological site in the Eure region
The major Gallic and Gallo-Roman site of Parville is currently being excavated by an Inrap team. Curated by the DRAC/Ministry of Culture, this preventive research is being conducted in the context of roadworks on the Evreux bypass.
At this vast site, several Gallic coins and a Roman coin hoard were recently discovered. The latter deposit, buried during the 270's AD, consists of 100 coins, including 73 counterfeits with an effigy of the Gallic emperor Postumus (cf. Press release of June 1, 2006).
Research on the status and evolution of the site of Parville, dating from the 1st century BC to the 4th century, has recently been compromised by the intrusion of looters equipped with metal detectors. Searching for metal objects, the illegal excavators dug 15 holes, some more than 40 cm deep, through archaeological levels. The pillaged objects are lost forever to archaeological research..
"No one may undertake excavations or test pits (…) on any land (…) without having first obtained authorization" (article L.531-1 of the code du patrimoine). Likewise, the use of metal detectors is subject to authorization given by the Préfet (article L.542-1 of the code du patrimoine). Following this damage to the Parville site, a complaint was filed by the Inrap archaeologists at Evreux police station, after the Regional Archaeology Service had been notified. Greater security measures are now being taken to protect the excavation.
"No one may undertake excavations or test pits (…) on any land (…) without having first obtained authorization" (article L.531-1 of the code du patrimoine). Likewise, the use of metal detectors is subject to authorization given by the Préfet (article L.542-1 of the code du patrimoine). Following this damage to the Parville site, a complaint was filed by the Inrap archaeologists at Evreux police station, after the Regional Archaeology Service had been notified. Greater security measures are now being taken to protect the excavation.
Site Director : Dagmar Lukas, Inrap
Curation : Regional Archaeology Service (Drac Haute-Normandie)
Developers : Direction départementale de l'équipement de l'Eure
Contact(s) :
Mahaut Tyrrell
Media communication
Inrap, media partnerships and relations
+33 6 07 40 59 77
mahaut.tyrrell [at] inrap.fr