Ancient wall unearthed beneath Paris hospital pinpoints Iron Age city of Lutetia

Archaeologists have uncovered an ancient wall beneath a hospital in central Paris that experts believe formed part of the defensive ramparts of Lutetia, the Iron Age settlement from which the French capital grew.

The structure, combining stone and wood, was found during work at the site this summer. Specialists say its construction is consistent with fortifications built by Iron Age inhabitants of the area.

If confirmed, the discovery would resolve a long-standing question about the precise location of Lutetia, which historians have debated for generations. Researchers regard the find as a significant breakthrough in understanding the origins of one of Europe's great cities.