Volunteers restoring an ancient stone wall in the commune of Saint-André-d'Allas, in the Dordogne region of southwest France, stumbled upon a hidden treasure of antique jewelry.
The Périgord Pierre Sèche association, tasked by the municipality to renovate old stone walls that are characteristic of the area, made the unexpected find during their monthly meeting on March 1st. While working at the foot of a wall, they uncovered about ten pieces of jewelry made of gold and diamonds, natural pearls, and brooches set with precious stones.
"We found this famous treasure at the level of the foundations of the wall," said Jean-Marc Audit, the president of the association, according to Le Figaro. "The idea is to trace the history of these jewels, how did they get there, why were they under a low wall, to whom do they belong."
Among the recovered jewelry, a volunteer mentioned "a brooch with quite a few diamonds on it," as well as several gold items including "a very ornate thimble" and "a cameo," which is a small engraving often worn as a pendant, reported BFMTV. The volunteers described the moment of the discovery as "emotionally strong," with one stating, "As far back as we go in our knowledge, no one has ever found anything." Another volunteer added, "It's really an event."
The mayor of Saint-André-d'Allas, Patrick Salinié, expressed his surprise at the find. "A treasure in the commune, it's never been seen before," he said in an interview with the local radio station ICI Périgord, according to BFMTV. The association immediately reported the find to the mayor, assuring ICI Périgord of their prompt action.
Immediate steps were taken with the gendarmerie and the prefecture to identify the original owner of the treasure. Since the jewelry was found on communal land, they belong equally to the town and the association in charge of preserving the walls. The town hall is now appealing to the inhabitants of the region for assistance. "We are calling on the inhabitants of the commune to let us know any stories they may have heard about these jewels," said Mayor Salinié.
To prevent attracting curious onlookers and potential treasure hunters, the exact location of the discovery is being kept secret. "We do not want an army of gold seekers who dig constantly," the mayor said, as reported by Le Figaro. The volunteers share this concern, wishing to preserve the integrity of the site and the ongoing restoration work.
The fate of the treasure was not yet decided by the municipality or the association, except that they were excluding any sale of the objects. A volunteer explained to BFMTV that the goal is "to make the link between the found object and the people associated with it."
Specialized teams are now working to determine the historical period to which the jewelry belongs and why it was hidden under the wall. The original owner of the jewelry remained unknown for now. The community hoped that uncovering the history of the items would provide insight into their significance and the story behind their concealment.
The discovery generated excitement among the volunteers and the local community. "We hear about treasures in Dordogne, about historical crowns hidden in the Périgord Noir, but discovering one by chance is unheard of," he told Al Arabiya. "It's always astonishing to have a booty like that under your eyes," he added in an interview with colleagues, according to Le Figaro.
At the heart of the Périgord Noir, Saint-André-d'Allas is a region steeped in history, with more than 100 kilometers of low stone walls. The association Périgord Pierre Sèche dedicated itself to preserving these walls, which are part of the area's heritage. Their dedication led to an unexpected journey into unraveling the mystery behind these antique jewels.
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.