Archaeologists have uncovered a segment of an ancient wall beneath Paris that may confirm the location of the city’s original settlement, according to France’s culture ministry. The discovery, made on the Île de la Cité near Notre Dame Cathedral this summer, consists of a roughly 20-meter section of a stone-and-wood structure dating back to the Gallo-Roman period.

Experts believe the wall is part of the defensive ramparts of Lutetia, the settlement that preceded modern Paris. Lutetia was established by the Parisii, a Gallic tribe inhabiting the region during the Iron Age. The find offers new insights into the early urban development of the French capital.

Culture Minister Catherine Pégard described the discovery as a “major breakthrough,” emphasizing its significance for understanding the historical origins of Paris. The wall fragment’s location on the Île de la Cité aligns with long-standing historical theories that place the ancient Parisii settlement in this area, which has been at the core of the city since Roman times.

This archaeological find adds physical evidence to prior historical and textual records that have suggested the Île de la Cité was the nucleus of early Lutetia. Researchers will continue studying the wall and surrounding site to glean further information about the structure and the community that built it, shedding light on the transition from the Gallic period to Roman occupation in the region.