400,000 years ago, the land that would become France's Saône-&-Loire department was home to some exceptional colonies of cave animals, which would be hunted by our prehistoric ancestors. 

Solutré, Azé or Chassey have now become names of world-renowned archaeological sites.
Southern Burgundy's attraction as a hospitable area was already confirmed as of early times when some of the major Celtic tribes roaming the European continent decided to settle here, including the Eduens in the Morvan and the Ambarres in the Bresse. Moreover, the ancient city of Bibracte, atop the Mont Beuvray, provided the backdrop for the Gaul tribal leader, who would become today's legendary figure of Vercingetorix, united Gaul's tribes to lead the battle against Julius Caesar's legions.
After his victory at Alesia, Caesar showed lenience toward the Eduens as he instigated the creation of the city of Augustodunum (present-day Autun), which was quickly labelled "sister city and replica of Rome" and which would go on to become one of the major capitals of the Gallo-Roman province of Gaul.