Archaeological discoveries in the Loire

Several archaeological sites were subject to specially tailored assignments enabling at least information about this fragile heritage to be saved: 

• Langeais (Indre-et-Loire): wreck of a large 18th century Loire barge with its cargo
• Bréhémont (Indre-et-Loire): undated wreck and its cargo
• Saint-Satur (Cher): 14th century wreck
• Montlivault (Loir-et-Cher): retaining wall of a Loire levee, duit (small submersible dyke built in the minor riverbed diagonally to the direction of flow) and wreck
• Saint-Cyr-Sur-Loire (Indre-et-Loire): wreck and its tuffeau stone cargo

Intervention du 10 septembre 2015 - prélèvement dendrochronologique (Crédit photo : PCR Épaves & naufrages) 

Attended by finders, river users and residents, these assignments were opportunities to pinpoint the location of the remains, characterise them (wrecks, water mill aprons, retaining walls or fishing grounds for example) and sometimes to determine their chronology through associated analyses (dendrochronology, ceramology, etc.). 

Thanks to this information gathered within the Centre-Loire Valley Region’s Directorate for Cultural Affairs (DRAC) regional archaeological department, the remains could be added to the national archaeology map, and therefore protected, studied and enhanced in close liaison with their finders, associations and other institutions in charge of this heritage (including museums and local authorities). 

“Épaves & naufrages” group research project

The group research project "Wrecks in fresh water since the late Middle Ages. Archaeology of a nautical reality within the Loire landscape" is a programme authorised by the Centre – Loire Valley DRAC for three years (2015-2018). A multidisciplinary team of some twenty people are involved in this theme. 

The project aims at: 

• studying the standardised descriptions and terminology associated with loss of a boat (wreckage, abandon or intentional loss) and its refloating, dismantling and recovery of its hull, cargo and tackle;
• understanding how "wrecking" came about in the past (causes, etc.), working out the time periods involved, finding potential linked archaeological sites and thinking about their archaeological reserve;
• endeavouring to identify the stages in protecting and/or abandoning the "wreck" in cultural (wreck in a museum and technical object) and environmental (archaeological site and wildlife habitat with high fishing potential) heritage procedures.

What to do in the event of a discovery?

The Loire heritage in all its diversity (such as lost cargo, wrecks, duits or chevrettes (similar to duits), old Loire ports) is unique, non renewable and particularly fragile, and still needs studying. Not declaring sites, scattering remains among private individuals, pillaging sites and concealing archaeological objects all prevent the community from being able to find out about such sites and are severely sanctioned by the law. 

What you should do: 

1. Photograph the remains and the context 

2. Leave the remains where you found them 

3. Note down their exact location 

4. Report the site within 48 hours to the municipal hall, gendarmerie, State departments or regional archaeological department. 

(Crédit photo : Ph.jugé / PCR Épaves & naufrages)