Archaeologists in Paris recently unearthed an ancient wall that may belong to a long-lost city — potentially solving a centuries-old mystery dating back to the times of Julius Caesar.The discovery was recently announced by the French Ministry of Culture. In a translated statement, officials said a wall discovered in the courtyard of the Hôtel-Dieu hospital — just a stone's throw away from Notre Dame Cathedral in the city's 4th arrondissement — might have belonged to the ancient city of Lutetia.'DIG OF THE CENTURY' BENEATH NOTRE DAME REVEALS MYSTERIOUS MARKINGS, ANCIENT SECRETSThe excavation, which began in February, was conducted ahead of a "major redevelopment project," officials said."Researchers initially expected to uncover traces of ancient dwellings, roads, or settlements dating to the medieval and early modern periods," the translated statement read.Archaeologists in Paris have uncovered an ancient stone-and-timber wall that may help solve a centuries-old mystery surrounding the lost Gallic settlement of Lutetia.(Simon Wohlfahrt/AFP via Getty Images)"Instead, alongside those remains, they discovered a stone-and-timber wall characteristic of ancient Gallic fortifications."The settlement was mentioned by Julius Caesar in his writings, particularly "The Gallic Wars" — but no conclusive archaeological evidence confirmed its location until now.ANCIENT CLUE CRACKS OPEN A 2,000-YEAR-OLD MYSTERY NEAR FAMED COLOSSEUMIn a statement, French Culture Minister Catherine Pégard said officials "may be looking at one of the most important discoveries ever made in understanding Gallic Lutetia."Scientific caution still requires us to verify its function and chronology, but the convergence of evidence is particularly remarkable," added Pégard.French archaeologists believe a roughly 66-foot wall discovered in central Paris may have belonged to the ancient Gallic settlement described in the writings of Julius Caesar (seen above right).
(Simon Wohlfahrt / AFP via Getty...