Casse-Rousse and the first inhabitants

At an altitude of 2070 m lies the site of Casse-Rousse, where numerous bronze objects were discovered in 1962. These remains testify to the presence of the Ligurians as early as 800 BCE, a population of hunter-gatherers, shepherds, and farmers. Around 700 BCE, faced with incursions by new peoples, the Ligurians reportedly buried their treasure in the mountain without ever being able to recover it. The richness of the objects found on this route, notably at the Lautaret pass, attests to substantial commercial traffic as early as 1000 to 900 BCE. The Ligurians only stayed in the high valley during the summer, setting up seasonal camps before descending in the autumn.