Oppidum of Corent

About

The Corent oppidum, also known as the Corent Puy oppidum, is a Gallic oppidum founded by the Arverne people. It is located on horseback between the communes of Corent and Veyre-Monton, in the department of Puy-de-Dôme, in Auvergne. Occupied from the third quarter of the 2nd century B.C., during the period of La Tene finale, from La Tene D1 to the Augustan period, it was gradually abandoned in the aftermath of the Gauls' War.

The Roman era saw the reconstruction of the sanctuary at the origin of the occupation, combined with a small theatre, marking the centre of a new agglomeration that lasted until at least the third century. The area covered by oppidum is estimated to be about 50 hectares. The most recent research, however, tends to nuance the idea of a brutal abandonment in the aftermath of the conquest, the excavations carried out since 2013 having highlighted a structured Gallo-Roman occupation, including houses laid on cellars and artisanal activities.

In view of the archaeological discoveries, Corent's oppidum is currently considered to be the capital of the Arvernes until the eve of the Roman conquest and could, as such, be...