|
Marcilly Mount |
|||
|
Exceptionally fine flora Covering an area of 10 hectares, Marcilly Mount is well-known for plants of many different species. Scientists also point out the importance of this area in relation to the region’s flora; four protected species can be seen. The hill is covered by limestone grass and rocky escarpments. A
hill which keeps an eye on things The Hill relates to a limestone and marno-limestone hill which peaks at 305 metres. The hill has been preserved by the erosion of the Ignon and the Vénarde, since it is topped by hard limestone. Here we have an isolated hill more than 340 metres high which overlooks the limestone foothills of the Châtillonnais.This limestone “mini-island” provides shelter to plant life which has adapted itself to a dry climate. It sits above a waterproof marl, as if keeping an eye on the lake lying at its feet. The
crossroads of two weather systems Typical
fauna Birds
who visit the Hill include the ash buzzard, the European sparrowhawk ,the
crecerelle falcon, the skylark, the traquet motteux, and the hypolais
polyglotte A
neolithic camp Due
to its isolated and commanding position, the Marcilly Hill drew in
neolithic man and other former inhabitants. It enabled them to watch
over the Ignon valley and the upper valley of the Tille. This
observation post served also as a refuge in the event of danger. The
Hill was surrounded by three enclosures which extended at different
levels from the base to the hill top. The enclosure at the base was
simply a fence starting at the hill’s base. The two enclosures higher
up were more defensive in character, together with the small fort which
was positioned at the top of the hill. Since
1960, research by Docteur Planson has uncovered traces of a house, or
at least some form of construction, the exact size and shape of which
is impossible to identify accurately; it would be unwise to claim this
to have been a permanent dwelling, given the lack of kitchen waste. The
quite small amount of archeological detail discovered is particularly
interesting. Stone implements discovered include weapons (sickle blades
and knives) as well as quite specialised tools (saws…etc.…..), and
other less-common multi-purpose tools - all of them small in size.
There are many examples of bone tools, and production seems to
have been well-developed: axe sheaths, bodkins, scissors,
gouges……… Neolithic
experts have agreed to classify this site as belonging to the
mid-neolithic period in Burgundy. The items discovered on Marcilly Hill
are on show in the Musée archéologique in Dijon, 5 rue du Docteur
Maret.
Text
for this page provided by: Another
useful address: Translated by Graham Paterson
|
|||
