Has Ancient Paris Been Found? The Discovery That Brings Julius Caesar Back into the Picture

Archaeological excavations near Notre-Dame in Paris have uncovered a stone and wood wall approximately 20 meters long, alongside signs of fire, a Gallic spearhead, and pottery from the time of Julius Caesar. Researchers are investigating whether this is part of Lutetia, the ancient Gallic settlement on which Paris grew, which was set ablaze in 52 BCE during the revolt against Rome.

Archaeological excavations in Paris, which began in February 2026 as part of the renovation work of a hospital on Île de la Cité, have revealed an extraordinary find: a wall about 20 meters long built of large stones and crossed wooden beams, a construction method typical of Gallic fortifications from the late Iron Age. Behind the wall, an artificial layer of sand and gravel nearly two meters thick was found, strengthening the hypothesis that this is a significant defensive structure. Parts of the wall are charred, and the site yielded burnt seeds, remains of a wooden structure destroyed by fire, a Gallic spearhead, and pottery dating to the time of Julius Caesar. The findings are particularly relevant given Caesar's description in his writings of Lutetia, the city of the Parisii tribe on an island in the Seine, which in 52 BCE, during the Gallic revolt, was set on fire by its inhabitants to prevent the Romans from capturing it. The wall is very fragile due to the ancient fire and its depth, and authorities plan to document it with three-dimensional photogrammetry, create a mold, and incorporate original stones in a future reconstruction.