Some rare flints from the Palaeolithic age are still being found in modern times in the area. It is, however, a two-ton, Neolithic-era polishing machine that is the prehistoric pride of Créteil. The first documents referring to Créteil are from the Merovingian era, when it was known as "Vicus Cristoilum"' The name comes from the prefix "crist" and "oilum". These two terms are thought to be Gallic: "clearing" for "oilum" and "ridge" for "crist". The "clearing" of the "ridge" of the Mont-Mesly is on the road connecting Paris and Sens (Trunk Road 19 today). In 1406, the place name "Créteil" makes its appearance after successive deformations from "Cristoill" (1278), "Cristeuil", "Cresteul" then "Creteuil".