The archaeological excavations of Orgères

Traces of lost civilisations: The art of archaeology

A journey into the heart of Alpine archaeology

In the wild heart of the Aosta Valley, amidst centuries of silence and timeless peaks, lies a place where history has left deep traces: Orgères, near Pont Serrand, where the eponymous valley meets that of Chavannes, along an ancient route leading to the Little St Bernard Pass.

Here comes to life the Orgères Project, a cornerstone of Alpine archaeology in the Aosta Valley, celebrated both for its interdisciplinary approach and its constant dialogue with the local territory — the so-called Third Mission, which unites research with community, memory with identity.

Orgères is much more than an archaeological site. It is a layered story spanning almost two millennia, from Roman times to the modern era, through a rich and surprising Middle Ages. Every stone, every fragment brought to light speaks of those who lived in these mountains — enduring long winters, sustaining vital trade, tending family hearths, and fortifying their communities.

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A Challenging Landscape, a Complex History
In this harsh and isolated mountain setting, research can only be collaborative: archaeology, geology, archaeozoology, palaeobotany, climatology, and agricultural sciences intertwine to give voice to the economy, daily life, and architectural choices of these valleys.
Thanks to laboratory analyses and cutting-edge technologies, archaeologists have identified at least four historical phases of the Orgères site:

Modern Age (18th century) – Alpine defences
During one of Europe’s most unstable periods, Orgères became a strategic military outpost. Trenches and fortifications, such as the redoubt and the ligne, controlled the great Alpine route. On 28 February 1793, Carlo Felice Nicolis di Robilant recorded how the Duchy of Aosta’s defence relied on these structures. Among the finds, a 1777 Austrian Mezzo Soldo coin tells of past crossings and tensions.
Late Middle Ages (13th–14th century) – Valley economy
A stable settlement developed here, built around a main building and animal shelters. Livestock, milk, wool, timber, and forage sustained a largely self-sufficient life while remaining connected to trade. Archaeozoological remains — including puppy bones — confirm continuous habitation. Two coins from the Bishop of Mantua and a decorated mortar with stylised faces and the Savoy coat of arms reflect spirituality, aesthetics, and power.
Early Middle Ages (8th–10th century) – Wood and stone
A rectangular dry-stone structure with a hearth and beaten-earth floor suggests a simple but clever construction, likely with a wooden upper level — a “mixed” technique possibly reusing older elements. Thermoluminescence dating places this phase between the 8th and 10th centuries.
Roman Age (1st–3rd century AD) – Travel and exchange
Orgères was not isolated in Roman times. The presence of an imperial-era building, along with pottery from northern Italy and Gaul, points to alternative routes connecting the valleys and facilitating trade beyond the main Roman roads.

Orgères Today: A Bridge Between Past and Future

The Orgères Project is not only about study and discovery. It invites visitors to see the landscape with fresh eyes, to catch whispers of the past in the details of the present. Through workshops, meetings, and educational trails, research opens to the community, building new connections between science and territory.

Orgères is more than an archaeological site: it is a place of the soul, where the mountains have, for centuries, guarded the secrets of those who lived here.