Hangard (Somme)

Hangard is a commune in the Somme department in Hauts-de-France in northern France. The commune is centered on Hangard village, located at longitude 2.5131E and latitude 49.8236N.GeographyHangard is situated on the D76 road, some 13mi southeast of Abbeville, and is at an elevation of about 35m.PopulationCensus records show that at the French Revolution the village had 244 inhabitants, but by 1846 this had risen to 345 after which the population began to decline until it was 172 just prior to the First World War. The village was destroyed in the second battle of Villers-Bretonneux, and thereafter has maintained a population of about 100.HistoryThe name comes from a personal name "Hano" and the Germanic "Gardo" and means ‘Hano’s garden’. In 1135 the name was spelt ‘Hangardum’.NeolithicStone-age tools of flint, in the shape of blades, arrows and axes have been found in the area. The excavations made in 1890 revealed weapons of worked stones were found near the village, including carved polished flint stones, each shaped knife, scraper and other axe-shaped.