Collection trésor de Vix - Ecran 20

The tomb was discovered near Vix, located 6 kilometers north of Châtillon-sur-Seine, at the base of Mont Lassois, which stands 109 meters tall. Vix currently has a population of approximately 100 inhabitants. Around 500 BCE, the hill was fortified and supported a population of between 2,500 and 5,000 people, covering an area of about 45 hectares.

Its location by the Seine River was crucial, as it became navigable for flatboats, requiring merchants to stop in Vix to switch from river to land transport. The settlement likely thrived towards the end of the Hallstatt period (550-450 BCE) due to trade along the Seine.

Mont Lassois was also a key crossroads for major Iron Age trade routes. Trade goods included tin from England, coral from the Mediterranean, amber from the Baltic, and oil and wine from Etruscan territories. The Celtic tribes were interconnected through this trade network.