Remarkable Ancient Roman Residential Complex Discovered in France Now Welcomes Visitors
Discovery of a Massive Roman Villa Near Auxerre, France
A significant archaeological find has been unearthed near Auxerre, France, along the Yonne river. Archaeologists have discovered a massive Roman villa, spanning over 7,500 square feet and covering approximately 4,000 square meters, making it one of the largest Roman villas found in Gaul.
Located at the Sainte-Nitasse site, this grand complex reveals an important late Roman settlement phase. Key features include an intricate Roman hypocaust system, an underground shrine, and evidence of multiple occupation phases during the Late Roman period.
The villa, believed to have belonged to wealthy, affluent people, boasts a size and scale consistent with the rural villa model widespread in Roman Gaul. The building's walls are made of rubble, funerary stele fragments, and columns, while thermal baths are located in the eastern wing.
Inside the villa, archaeologists found hypocausts (underfloor heating) and spaces where they believe there were once mosaics. One room contains an apse, and furniture found within dates between the 1st and 4th centuries CE.
The garden enclosed by a basin at the north side and a fountain along the south is found off the reception and working rooms, including a possible kitchen. The excavation site is located within the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region, and the building being excavated is estimated to be a 43,000-square-foot wing of a larger settlement.
Researchers are currently trying to determine the number of phases the city underwent between the first and fourth centuries CE. The site will open to the public on June 15, with archaeologist-led tours, providing an opportunity for the general public to learn more about rural Roman life and settlement organization in northern France.
The settlement, named Autessiodurum, started as a settlement at the beginning of the first century CE and grew to become a capital city in the 4th century CE. This discovery sheds light on economic, domestic, and religious practices in a provincial yet important part of the Roman Empire.
References:
- L'archéologie aujourd'hui
- Bourgogne Franche-Comté Tourisme
- Le Figaro
- Archaeology in Europe
- This discovered Roman villa, adorned with an intricate hypocaust system and evidence of residential phases, provides a glimpse into the art and lifestyle of the affluent residents, as well as their home-and-garden arrangements, embodying the rural villa model prevalent in Roman Gaul.
- The grand Roman settlement, now open to the public, offers a unique insight into the lifestyle and organization of Roman provincial cities, showcasing the blend of domestic, economic, and religious practices, whilst offering a captivating fusion of art, lifestyle, and home-and-garden elements amidst the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region.
