Mailhac

A series of important Late Bronze Age and Iron Age sites near Narbonne in southwest France, dating from the 8th-1st centuries BC. The sites comprise a defended hilltop settlement (Le Cayla) and a series of urnfield cemeteries (Le Moulin, Grand Bassin I and II). The earliest phase has an urnfield-type cemetery, wooden houses, and evidence of farming supplemented by hunting. In the second phase (early 6th century BC), Hallstatt influences include iron and a chieftain's wagon burial (La Redorte). Greek and Etruscan imports appear in both graves and occupation deposits in this and in the succeeding phase. Occupation ended early in the 1st century BC with a burning, probably a Roman punitive action after threatened uprisings in the area.

A series of important Late Bronze Age and Iron Age sites near Narbonne in southwest France, dating from the 8th to the 1st centuries bc. The sites comprise a defended hilltop settlement (Le Cayla) and a series of urnfield cemeteries (Le Moulin, Grand Bassin I and II). The earliest phase (Mailhac I) is represented by a cemetery of Urnfield type at Le Moulin and the earliest phase of occupation of Le Cayla, with wooden houses and evidence of a mixed farming economy, supplemented by hunting. In the Mailhac II phase of the early 6th century bc, Hallstatt influences are strong: iron became quite common and a chieftain’s wagon burial at La Redorte is of Hallstatt type, although most burials of this period, in the Grand Bassin I cemetery, are still cremations in urns. This period postdates the foundation of the Greek colony at Marseilles (Massalia) and Greek and Etruscan imports start to appear in both graves and occupation deposits in this and especially in the succeeding phase (Mailhac III, dated to the later 6th century bc); the burials of phase III are still inurned cremations in the Grand Bassin II cemetery. Phases IV and V are known from the settlement and belong to the Early and Middle La T₺ne Iron Age. Occupation ended early in the 1st century bc with a burning, probably to be attributed to Roman punitive action after threatened risings in the area.