Acropolis Roquepertuse was an ancient Celtic religious site. It is located near the city of Velaux, 16 miles west of Aix-en-Provence and 16 miles north of Marseille, in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of southern France. In 1824, the site was first recorded in the Bouches-du-Rhône civil statistics after a partially buried statue of a cross-legged warrior was found in the garden of the parish priest. The structure was destroyed by the Romans in 124 BC. It was rediscovered in 1860 when a statue that had been partially uncovered was completely excavated. Most of the excavations at the site were conducted in 1923 by Henri de Gérin-Ricard.

Excavations

In the 19th century, the accidental discovery of ancient sculptures led to the first excavation of the site by Count Henry de Gérin-Ricard. Over the next ten years, from 1917 to 1927, several excavations uncovered structures believed to be a sanctuary connected to the Celto-Ligures people. These structures were first thought to date to just before the Roman conquest.

Today, the relics are officially dated to the 3rd century BC, based on evidence of Celtic expansion into the region during that time. However, the clothing and gestures of some statues found at the site suggest they may be older, possibly from the 5th or 6th century BC. These statues are unique because they show figures sitting with crossed legs.

A large platform, 50 meters by 22 meters, paved with flat stones—including a few reused headstones—was discovered. The platform was split in the middle by a staircase made of large stone blocks. Stone walls on either side of the stairs formed a terrace, likely part of a larger group of terraces that once existed.

On the platform was a structure described as a portal, door frame, or portico with pillars, carved from limestone. The columns of this structure had hollow spaces where human stone masks and skulls were placed. The lintel above the doorway was carved with the heads of four horses and painted decorations. At the top of the lintel was a limestone statue of a bird, 60 centimeters wide, once thought to be a goose but now believed to represent a bird of prey.

Other items found included a two-faced, androgynous limestone sculpture (20 centimeters tall and 30 centimeters long) and two statues of figures sitting cross-legged (62 centimeters tall).

At first, archaeologists believed the site was a secluded sanctuary. However, recent studies suggest it was a larger complex of about 0.5 hectares, including a sanctuary to the north and a fortification for protection.

The site is important because it provides evidence of the Celtic head cult, a practice mentioned in Greek and Roman writings. It is near another Celtic-Roman site called Entremont, which had similar carvings of severed human and horse heads, as well as skull niches in pillars. Nearby, several ancient settlements called oppida from the same period have also been found.

Roquepertuse was declared a protected historical site in 1967. The site had no homes for worshippers and was likely used as a sanctuary where only priests lived permanently.