There are 4 lime kilns on Riou. This is an attempt at dating them.
This one looks like it was used recently at La Sablière around 1850 when they exploited the sand, and build the ramp to download the sand and the house. It is covered by vegetation and seems double. The most interesting thing is that it protected the area from the devastation and it is one of the spots which was inhabited from 6000BC until 50AD. However it is mentionned as an ancient kiln on the 1825 Matheron Cadastre which would point to mid 18century for use by soap manufacturers
This one is probably the most ancient because it is the closest to the watch tower and the cistern . A proper dig is necessary because there is a mix of artefacts from the roman times onto today.
The best preserved in the vallon de Caramassane, exists in 1825, but its twin in the next valley is not mentioned maybe because it is not as easily spotted
The end of the island has a limestone more suitable to make lime than the urgonian, and this might be the reason for these 2 kilns in that area. The artefacts found around are of Vallauris culinary and pottery of the Huveaune region, which places them in the mid eighteen century.
Lime was used not only for construction, but was an important component in the making of soap, one of the big industries of Marseille since the 16th century. Riou being out of reach, we turned our attention to the Massif des Calanques. Lime kilns are everywhere in the hills. I had read that in 1571 one was at the limit of the property of the Sisters of St Sauveur. They owned the Calanques, and were selling them to the Prudhommes of Marseille. Another archive document in 1777 was a contract to build 3 kilns in Marseilleveyre, Mounine and Calelongue. I set out to locate them in 2009. The one in Calelongue has been bulldozed by the firemen to grant access to fire trucks
Lime was used not only for construction, but was an important component in the making of soap, one of the big industries of Marseille since the 16th century. Riou being out of reach, we turned our attention to the Massif des Calanques. Lime kilns are everywhere in the hills. I had read that in 1571 one was at the limit of the property of the Sisters of St Sauveur. They owned the Calanques, and were selling them to the Prudhommes of Marseille. Another archive document in 1777 was a contract to build 3 kilns in Marseilleveyre, Mounine and Calelongue. I set out to locate them in 2009. The one in Calelongue has been bulldozed by the firemen to grant access to fire trucks
Big enough to be from 1556 , le four de MARSEILLEVEYRE des Soeurs de St Sauveur.
Close by, the archeologists found a camping site for massaliote fishermen , and maybe goat herders. The path on the right is the direct road between the shore and Marseille, via Mazargues, so it confirms what I already know,
In 2009 another fire in the Parc des Calanques was left to burn from above the fontaine de Voyre all the way up to the plan de Coulon. It revealed 5 kilns in a row 130 feet apart in a small valley. My friend hiker, Jean Marc Nardini mentioned them to me in 2012. My father had done the map of the Calanques in 1927/1930. He noted only one in that particular valley. We assume the vegetation must have been quite thick (there is water, for there is a big ivy plant still thriving) for him to miss 4 relics! It is a very unassuming slope in a landscape of incredible cliffs as far as the eye can see in all directions! Next to it in the gorge going steeply down to the Fontaine de Voyre, in the middle of the path is another kiln, every one knows.
Close by, the archeologists found a camping site for massaliote fishermen , and maybe goat herders. The path on the right is the direct road between the shore and Marseille, via Mazargues, so it confirms what I already know,
In 2009 another fire in the Parc des Calanques was left to burn from above the fontaine de Voyre all the way up to the plan de Coulon. It revealed 5 kilns in a row 130 feet apart in a small valley. My friend hiker, Jean Marc Nardini mentioned them to me in 2012. My father had done the map of the Calanques in 1927/1930. He noted only one in that particular valley. We assume the vegetation must have been quite thick (there is water, for there is a big ivy plant still thriving) for him to miss 4 relics! It is a very unassuming slope in a landscape of incredible cliffs as far as the eye can see in all directions! Next to it in the gorge going steeply down to the Fontaine de Voyre, in the middle of the path is another kiln, every one knows.
Hundreds of hikers, hill-climbers, hunters go by. Someone in the time of the emperor Aurelien (270/275AD) dropped a coin next to it. Now we know that the Romans also scoured the hills around Sormiou. Similar coins have been found in Sormiou. but they were not the builders of the 5 kilns for on top of the wall next to a clump of red clay hardened by the fire a bronze coin with Apollon to the left and a passing bull on the reverse was laying there since about 120 years BC. We launched a research into antique greek kilns, and came up with nothing! We have been told over and over ,"not even middle age, kilns are from the 16th". Again when I told the archeologists I was prospecting with in nov 2013, that we had some reasons to think these kilns are massaliotes, the first thing I was told was "kilns are from the 17th century". We are getting used to that, the batting average is not in favor of the experts!
We'll see what they will do with the information. But after seeing the total lack of interest for what happened on Cape Morgiou 200 years ago, I am sorry to say I do not expect much! But it does not matter, we know .. and Jean Marc Nardini is the "inventeur des 5 fours à chaux antiques du plateau de l'homme mort". We know of 7 more candidates at this date.
We'll see what they will do with the information. But after seeing the total lack of interest for what happened on Cape Morgiou 200 years ago, I am sorry to say I do not expect much! But it does not matter, we know .. and Jean Marc Nardini is the "inventeur des 5 fours à chaux antiques du plateau de l'homme mort". We know of 7 more candidates at this date.
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