
Paris Excavation Yields Gallo-Roman Wall, Potentially Settling Lutetia’s Location Debate
A 20-meter stretch of ancient wall discovered beneath the Hôtel-Dieu hospital on the Île de la Cité in Paris has been hailed by France’s culture ministry as a major breakthrough. Dating from the Gallo-Roman period, the stone-and-wood structure may confirm the island as the original site of Lutetia, the ancient name for Paris. The find, which bears traces of fire, aligns with historical accounts of the Battle of Lutetia in 52 BC and could resolve a long-standing debate regarding whether the city’s first settlement was located on the island or in the western suburb of Nanterre.



