Oppidum de Châteaumeillant

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The opidum de Châteaumeillant, the archaeological site of Mediolanum Biturigum is located in the town of Châteaumeillant, in the department of Cher, in the region Centre-Val de Loire. This protohistoric city was founded in the third century BC (c. 250 BC). The ancient city belongs to the civitas of the Gaulish tribe of the Bituriges Cubes.

In the middle of the 2nd century B.C. ancient city suffered a major fire. Several physical indices, in the form of architectural elements and artisanal artifacts, confirm that the site's occupation is expanding and increasing after this event. Mediolanum Biturigum had its peak between the middle of the second century and the beginning of the first century BC. During this period, at La Tene "final" ("C2" - "D1), a commercial route, linking the Oppidum de Lemonum (the current town of Poitiers) and Lugdunum (i.e. the ancient Lyon), then served the ancient Berrichonne city. At the same time, many Gaulish hierarchs, mostly wealthy Italian wine traders, settled in Mediolanum/Châteaumeillant. A lot of amphora...