Secret Stones : Stories and Archaeology of Our Local Areas

[…] every day, the farmer’s pickaxe brings to light polished axes scattered here and there […] – De Fréminville, 1878.

The archaeological richness of the ‘Val Lamartinien’, beyond the iconic site of Solutré, has been well known since the^19th century. Agricultural work has been at the forefront of human activities that have revealed the existence of archaeological sites bearing witness to our past. Archaeologists have often used this data to identify locations for their research, which this exhibition will showcase through the findings gathered in this region over the past 70 years. This exhibition, scheduled for the summer of 2026, will be held at two venues: the monks’ chapel in Berzé-la-Ville and the ‘Terres secrètes’ cellar in Prissé.  

In the small chapel at Berzé-la-Ville, display panels will present certain aspects ofthis region’s ancient history. After setting out the antiquity and significance of the Petite Grosne and Fil valleys, which link the Val de Saône to the Cluny region, the exhibition will present – in keeping with the sacred nature of this site – the religious and funerary practices of the Gallo-Roman period. There will also be a display panel dedicated to a new investigative method used in archaeology: LIDAR. This technique, applied in the commune of Sologny, has revealed an entire agricultural landscape that has now been forgotten.

At the Prissé wine cellar, an overview ofhuman settlement from the Neolithic to the medieval period will be presented. There will be a focus on viticulture during the Gallic, Gallo-Roman and medieval periods, and a display panel illustratingthe history of wine in Gaul will also be on show. A selection of artefacts from the GAM’s research will be on display as part of the exhibition.

Both exhibitions will be free to visit during each venue’s opening hours:

· Opening in Berzé-la-Ville on Thursday 25 June
· Opening in Prissé on Saturday 27 June