The mysterious “fishbone” tunnels under Croix-Rousse

Since their discovery over 60 years ago under the city of Lyon, the "fishbone" tunnels have become a real mystery. These tunnels, found by chance in 1959 under the Croix-Rousse hill during construction work, have raised many questions about their origin and purpose.

The unexpected discovery

On February 18, 1959, road workers building a tunnel to ease traffic congestion discovered an intriguing network of tunnels. The network, consisting of 32 identical tunnels, resembled the structure of a fish skeleton, hence the name "fish bones."

A persistent mystery

Despite their discovery, the fish bones were long neglected by the Lyon authorities. In 1961, a water leak from one of the wells led to the discovery of other passages containing human remains and ancient artifacts, including a bronze laurel wreath covered in gold leaf. These discoveries have been linked to the time of the Roman city of Lugdunum, but the exact purpose of the tunnels has remained unexplained.

Hypotheses about their function

There has been much speculation about the function of fish bones. While various theories have been put forward, such as their use for drainage or as catacombs, no definitive answer has been given as to their purpose. Some believe that they were used during the Roman Empire to store money collected through taxes or even treasure. Others have speculated that they may have been used to hide the treasure of the Knights Templar, but this has not been confirmed.

New discoveries and dating

Archaeological studies have revealed that the Fishbones date back to the Roman period, approximately between 100 BC and the 1st century AD. The connection between the Fishbones and the Sarrazinières tunnels has also been confirmed, further adding to the complexity of the mystery surrounding their function.

Towards a revelation?

In 2022, specialists presented different hypotheses at a seminar, but no clear consensus has been reached as to the exact reason for the construction of these tunnels. Researchers continue to study the artifacts and explore possibilities to elucidate this underground mystery.

Uncertain conclusion

Despite decades of research and discovery, the Fishbones remain a fascinating enigma. They represent a unique aspect of Lyon's history, but the precise purpose of their construction remains an unsolved mystery, always inviting more research and speculation about this enigmatic underground network.

Video

A file by Romain Desgrand can be found on tribunedelyon.fr

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