Acropolis Roquepertuse was an ancient Celtic religious center. It is located near the city of Velaux, north of Marseille, 16 miles west of Aix-en-Provence, 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 and rediscovered in 1860 when a partially uncovered statue was fully excavated. Most of the digging at the site happened in 1923, led by Henri de Gérin-Ricard.

Excavations

In the 19th century, the accidental discovery of 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 identified as a sanctuary connected to the Celto-Ligures. These structures were initially 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 in the area during that time. However, 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 are shown sitting cross-legged.

A large platform, 50 meters by 22 meters, paved with flat stones and 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 complex.

On the platform was a structure described as a portal, door frame, or portico with pillars, carved from limestone. The columns had cavities 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, originally thought to be a goose but now believed to represent a raptor.

Other finds included a two-faced androgynous limestone sculpture (0.2 meters high and 30 centimeters long) and two statues of figures sitting cross-legged (0.62 meters high).

Initially, archaeologists believed the site was a secluded sanctuary. However, recent studies suggest it was a larger area of about 0.5 hectares, including a sanctuary to the north and a wall for protection.

The site is important because it provides evidence of the Celtic head cult, a practice mentioned in Greek and Roman writings.

Nearby is another Celtic-Roman site called Entremont, which had similar carvings of severed human and horse heads and skull niches carved into pillars. Other nearby sites include several oppida, or ancient hilltop settlements, from the same period. 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.