Revue Archéologique du Centre de la France (Dec 2012)
Une motte castrale dans le contexte des recompositions politiques au tournant de l’an mil (Région Centre, Indre-et-Loire)
Abstract
The archaeological evaluation done in July 2011, at the bottom of the bailey of Betz-le-Château, in the south of the Touraine region, gave us significant information about the methods used to defend the village during the feudal era. Dating from the artefacts shows that the bailey was built at the end of the 10th century, a period when counts and princes wanted emancipation from the last Carolingian kings. At this time, Gilles de Betz took under his control all the ways of communication and the village population. The village is situated on a rocky spur and is identified as the chief place of the region at the end of the 9th century. The bailey, built as a protection at the front of the plateau, is made of an artificial hillock surrounded by ditches and earthen rampart, defining three areas with different functions. The first area is the hillock, probably welcoming a wooden tower at its summit; it was used as the stronghold and High Court. The second area was used for food storage, as the silos found on site indicated. It was also used as a shield for the accommodation areas, it formed a Low Court situated south of the hillock. The third area, situated to the west, is twice the size of the other area. It included a large part of the village (with the church and cemetery) and formed a second Low Court. The bailey and the first Low Court were quickly forsaken by the Lords of Betz, who preferred to live in the village. Later on, circa the 12th century, they built a stone castle at the bottom of the rocky spur. The deserted area was never reoccupied, as during the middle age this space was seen as a feudal vassal symbol. This has influenced the evolution of the village, which only went on to develop itself on the narrow slope of the spur.
