Puit salé

  • puit salé de Moriez
Verdon Tourisme > Puit salé
Moriez-en

Although the well visible today dates back to the 17th century, exploitation of the salt spring dates back to Neolithic times and continued until the 19th century.

Excavations carried out at the bottom of the well between 1999 and 2002 enabled a fascine of almond rods to be carbon-14 dated to the first half of the 6th millennium BC (between 5800 and 5500), attesting to extremely early exploitation of this saltwater spring. The well was rediscovered in 1636. The masonry of the well dates back to this period. Exploitation was continuous until the mid-19th century. In 1840, a new law prohibited this type of installation. The well was closed. However, it was not destroyed as the authorities would have wished. In 1899, the commune had the building housing the 17th-century well rebuilt.
Excavations uncovered the mining system that had been left abandoned. What remains is the 1.5 m diameter well. Made of limestone ashlar, it is now enclosed by a gate. Around the shaft, a large block of very large rubble stone was built. Its very specific shape (a sharp point to the north) was designed to protect the mine from flooding by the nearby river. To the south is the door leading to the well. In front of this door, slightly to the east, are two rectangular tubs measuring approximately 2 m by 1.5 m. These salt tables, arranged in a row, were used for water evaporation and salt concentration. The first is filled in; the second, just under 1 m deep, is paved with terracotta tiles.

source: Inventaire général du Patrimoine culturel Région Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur

04170 Moriez-en