Type: Physical Trace
Source: French Gendarmerie
French gendarmes documented unusual physical traces at the location identified by Maurice Masse as the landing site. The formal July 5, 1965 report described a roughly cylindrical depression approximately 18 centimeters in diameter and 40 centimeters deep, with four shallow grooves extending from the central depression in a cross-like pattern. Measurements and photographs were made during the investigation.
Masse reported that the object had landed in his lavender field near Valensole on July 1, 1965. When investigators examined the area, they found an unusual depression in the soil.
The gendarmerie's documented measurements described:
A shallow depression approximately 1.2 meters across
A cylindrical hole approximately 18 cm (7 inches) in diameter
The hole was approximately 40 cm (16 inches) deep
Four shallow grooves/sillons extended outward from the central hole
The grooves formed roughly a cross/X-shaped pattern
The soil in the immediate area was unusually compacted/hardened compared with the surrounding freshly worked soil.