archaeologists, students and volunteers uncover a medieval fort

The Murat archaeological site in the commune of Saint-Dizier-Masbaraud, in Creuse, ended last year after a decade of research. He uncovered a medieval fort, located on the Thaurion river. More than 1000 years ago, it was a strategic axis. A rare discovery. (first published August 19, 2024)

It's a leap in time… We are back in the Carolingian era.

Who could imagine it? Under the countryside and forest stretching as far as the eye can see, a thousand-year-old medieval fort, located on the Thaurion river, was discovered in 2024. A rare discovery that archaeologists made this summer, after ten years of excavations. During the Carolingian era, Murat, in the current commune of Saint-Dizier-Masbaraud, in Creuse, was a strategic place.

Richard Jonvel has a thousand reasons to be enthusiastic about this archaeological site of the barred spur, a rocky promontory located just above the Thaurion river, at the confluence of the Leyrenne. This embankment is said to be blocked because its access had been blocked by a ditch dug in the stone. After ten years of excavations, with his team of archaeologists, students and volunteers, he uncovered a medieval fort. “Murat is the first excavation in France to identify a vitrified rampart from the early Middle Ages”, explains the archaeologist to visitors who came to discover the site, before its closure at the end of August. “The structure dates from the 9th century.”

This vitrified rampart presents a fortification technique which consists of burning stones and beams to harden the embankment.

Over the years, archaeologists have discovered small weapon partsment, swords, irons, dating from the 8th century et IXᵉ centuries. Nothing really impressive, all in all. But this research reveals a lot about the site.

An old shale quarry previously covered this fortified site. “We are at least on a military fort, perhaps a residence with an aristocratic vocation, but that still remains to be demonstratedsays Richard Jonvel. In any case, it is a control point in the Thaurion valley, in relation to other major fortifications for the 9th century, probably very rare at the time.”

Murat's excavations therefore ended, after ten years of investigations. No regrets for the archaeologist. “It's an exhaustive search. In ten years, we will have truly excavated the entire promontory and its defensive elements. In a career as an archaeologist, it is very rare to have the chance to excavate a site in its entirety.” rejoices Richard Jonvel.

If this discovery also marks the end of an exceptional adventure for these archaeologists, these specialists are convinced: the Thaurion valley has certainly not finished revealing its secrets.