L’usage des trachytes de la chaîne des Puys depuis deux millénaires / The use of trachytic lava in the chaîne des Puys for two millennia

A groundbreaking study reveals that trachytic lavas from the Chaîne des Puys volcanoes exhibit unique petrographic identities, enabling precise sourcing of archaeological materials. The research, part of a collective project, identified distinct lava types for most volcanoes, with exceptions like Cliersou and Aumône sharing the same composition. Notably, the Puy de Dôme and Cratère Kilian each consist of two different lavas. This fine characterization allows archaeologists to trace trachyte materials used in ancient buildings, tombs, and sculptures—such as those from the Temple of Mercury and the Tourette d'Enval sanctuary—to their original volcanic sources. The study also uncovered extensive quarrying activities during antiquity and the High Middle Ages, including previously unknown underground exploitations. Additionally, it highlights the use of trachytes in Romanesque architecture and modern civil construction, offering new insights into ancient economic circuits and craft practices.

Boivin, P., Dousteyssier, B., Miallier, D., Arbaret, L., Gaime, S., Hénault, D., Martin, G., & Roger, J. (2021). L’usage des trachytes de la chaîne des Puys depuis deux millénaires / The use of trachytic lava in the chaîne des Puys for two millennia. Revue Des Sciences Naturelles d’Auvergne, 85(1), 45–77. https://doi.org/10.3406/rsna.2021.3524