La Pran
Origin of the name La Pran
The site takes its name from the Pran stream that runs through it. The origin of this name is unexplained. Archaeologists call it « Develier-Courtételle ».[4]
Founding of La Pran
The site lies in a side valley of the Delémont valley, at about 450 m altitude, along the Pran stream, south-east of the village of Develier, in the municipalities of Develier and Courtételle. A Merovingian hamlet of about 3.5 hectares was occupied there from the 6th to the 8th century; its founders are unknown. It had six farms, each with at least one house and several small outbuildings, and four craft areas: two linked to water, with basins for textile work, and two linked to iron-working, with bloomery furnaces and forge hearths, whose volume of slag suggests iron production far exceeding the hamlet's needs. The site, abandoned in the early Middle Ages, was discovered in 1987 during surveys for the A16 motorway. Datings vary: the municipality of Develier gives 650-750 AD.[1][2][3][4]
History of La Pran
Gallo-Roman period. A Gallo-Roman villa stands at Develier, about 200 m from the site of the later hamlet.
6th century. The Merovingian hamlet of six farms along the Pran stream begins to be occupied.[1]
first half of the 7th century. The hamlet begins to be gradually abandoned.[1]
second half of the 7th century. The community refocuses on farming. The textile and iron workshops are abandoned.[1]
8th century. End of the hamlet's occupation.[1]
19th century. The Gallo-Roman villa of Develier, within whose enclosure lies a necropolis contemporary with the hamlet, becomes known.[1]
1987. The site is located during surveys for the construction of the A16 motorway (Transjurane).[1]
1993-1997. Excavations by the archaeology service of the Office de la culture of the canton of Jura over about 3.5 hectares.[1][4]
2004-2008. Publication of the results in the Cahiers d'archéologie jurassienne 13 to 17, « Develier-Courtételle, un habitat rural mérovingien ».[1]
Historic sites in La Pran
Pran valley. Side valley of the Delémont valley, crossed by the Pran stream, south-east of the village of Develier, where the hamlet lay.[4]
Collections of the Office de la culture. The archaeological finds from the site are kept in the collections of the Office de la culture in Porrentruy.[1]
Remains in La Pran
Six Merovingian farms. Six farms, each with at least one house and several small outbuildings (storage, weaving, food preparation), with ovens, hearths and pits, separated by ditches, open ground or the stream.[1][4]
Iron and textile workshops. Four craft areas: two linked to water, with basins for textile work, and two linked to iron-working, with bloomery furnaces and forge hearths. The volume of slag suggests iron production far exceeding the hamlet's needs.[1]
Contemporary necropolis. Necropolis contemporary with the hamlet, excavated about 200 m from it, within the enclosure of the Gallo-Roman villa of Develier. It may not be directly linked to the settlement.[1]
Sources
- Dictionnaire du Jura, « Pran, La / Tivila » (Ludwig Poget)
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Courtételle » (François Kohler)
- Commune de Develier, « A la recherche du premier site de peuplement »
- Develier-Courtételle, un habitat rural mérovingien, 3, Cahier d'archéologie jurassienne 15, Porrentruy, 2006 (présentation)
- geo.admin.ch (swisstopo), recherche de lieux « Ruisseau de la Pran »
Other villages near La Pran
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