L’oppidum du Castellas à Murviel-lès-Montpellier (Hérault). Nouveaux acquis sur l’occupation de la fin de l’âge du Fer (IIIe-Ier s. av. n. è.)

This article presents the results of the excavation campaigns carried out between 2010 and 2018 on the summit of the Castellas de Murviel-lès-Montpellier site, which is best known for the Gallo-Roman period. The investigations focused on the northern sector of the enclosure, in particular in the vicinity of one of the entrances previously identified. The newly acquired data makes it possible to date the oppidum’s foundation to the middle or second half of the 3rd century BC. They also make it possible to characterise the protohistoric occupation of the site for the first time, and to trace its development. The picture that emerges is of a well-structured, agglomerated settlement covering almost 4 hectares, protected behind a powerful fortification. The various remains uncovered provide many points of comparison with the main contemporary fortified settlements in eastern Languedoc. Judging by the areas that have been excavated, the hilltop was no longer inhabited after the reign of Augustus, after more than two centuries of continuous occupation. By this time, the settlement had grown to 20 hectares and was developing mainly at the foot of the hill.