French researchers and archaeologists say they have filled in "the last piece of the jigsaw we were missing" to identify a permanent Stone Age village in an area south of Paris, 150 years after flints turned up in an early excavation.
The 19th century digging revealed foundations of a palisade surrounding a hilltop area; subsequent work in the Marais de Saint-Gond area has located 15 large flint mines on 450 hectares, as well as 135 hypogea—constructed underground chambers. Covered alleys, polishers for axes and fields that were cultivated by controlled burns have also been identified.
Researchers from France's CNRS research institute say these discoveries make it possible to pass a milestone in the understanding of "the economic, societal and territorial organisation of the Neolithic." Project leader Remi Martineau added that there is "no equivalent" in all of Europe.
Research and excavation are continuing.
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