This work addresses the question of the early use by ancient societies of northern France of coal in crafts and more particularly iron metallurgy. Preventive archeology operations since the 2010s in this territory have shed light on such practices. The oldest regional traces found date from the end of the 2nd and the beginning of the 3rd century. However, it was mainly throughout the Middle Ages that this practice expanded. The issues that arose from these discoveries resulted in a thesis work defended in 2020. The latter was able to highlight the causes which pushed these ancient societies to turn to this energy resource. This research also shed light on the different supply networks. Finally, she was interested in the different consequences (technical, environmental, etc.) of the use of this fossil fuel.