Les objets du Bronze moyen récemment découverts à Chalonnes-sur-Loire (Maine-et-Loire). Analyse typologique, environnement culturel et naturel

A recently discovered Middle Bronze Age hoard from Chalonnes-sur-Loire, France, reveals significant cultural and environmental insights. The 'Belvédère set' consists of 11 objects, including tools like chisels and flanged axes, as well as jewelry such as bracelets, dating to the Bronze B2 period (approximately 1500–1300 BCE). These artifacts show evidence of cultural links between the lower Loire Valley and regions like the Channel and North Alpine arc, differing from other known hoards in their fragmentation and mixed nature. The discovery suggests that Chalonnes-sur-Loire may have been a significant site for metalworking during this period, possibly influenced by nearby tin and copper mineralizations. This finding contributes to our understanding of Bronze Age trade networks and social structures in Western Europe.

Gabillot, M., Simon-Millot, R., & Petit, C. (2011). Les objets du Bronze moyen récemment découverts à Chalonnes-sur-Loire (Maine-et-Loire). Analyse typologique, environnement culturel et naturel. Bulletin de La Société Préhistorique Française, 108(2), 331–344. https://doi.org/10.3406/bspf.2011.14014