The sanctuary of Gournay-sur-Aronde (Oise) was excavated between 1977 and 1980 by a group of students under the supervision of J. -L. Brunaux. The cult place comprised several pits and its rectangular ditch enclosure contained over 3 000 bones and 2 000 metal objects and fragments. In order to treat and preserve such quantities of artifacts, a laboratory was created for that sole purpose in Compiègne. This discovery also initiated the spread of processual archaeology in French Protohistory research.