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| Roman Ruins Found in France Are Called ‘Exceptional’ | Roman Ruins Found in France Are Called ‘Exceptional’ |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| LONDON — Archaeologists have discovered the well-preserved remains of a Roman neighborhood that was destroyed early in the first millennium after Christ, in what the French Culture Ministry called an “exceptional discovery.” | LONDON — Archaeologists have discovered the well-preserved remains of a Roman neighborhood that was destroyed early in the first millennium after Christ, in what the French Culture Ministry called an “exceptional discovery.” |
| The neighborhood was found near Ste.-Colombe, a suburb across the Rhône River from the city of Vienne, about 20 miles south of Lyon. Vienne is well known for its traces of Roman civilization; several old city ramparts survive, as do the remains of a theater and several roads. | The neighborhood was found near Ste.-Colombe, a suburb across the Rhône River from the city of Vienne, about 20 miles south of Lyon. Vienne is well known for its traces of Roman civilization; several old city ramparts survive, as do the remains of a theater and several roads. |
| Benjamin Clément, an archaeologist with Archeodunum, a company with offices in Switzerland and France that evaluates historic sites that could be threatened by construction, called the discovery “probably the most exceptional find from the Roman era in years.” Work on the site began in early April, and reporters were permitted to visit the excavation for the first time this week. | Benjamin Clément, an archaeologist with Archeodunum, a company with offices in Switzerland and France that evaluates historic sites that could be threatened by construction, called the discovery “probably the most exceptional find from the Roman era in years.” Work on the site began in early April, and reporters were permitted to visit the excavation for the first time this week. |
| The neighborhood included shops dedicated to metalwork, food stores and other artisanal production; a warehouse full of jugs for wine; two houses, which were most likely occupied by members of the nobility and contain mosaics; and a hydraulic network that allows for cleaning and drainage. The neighborhood appeared to be built around a market square, apparently the largest of its kind to be discovered in France. | The neighborhood included shops dedicated to metalwork, food stores and other artisanal production; a warehouse full of jugs for wine; two houses, which were most likely occupied by members of the nobility and contain mosaics; and a hydraulic network that allows for cleaning and drainage. The neighborhood appeared to be built around a market square, apparently the largest of its kind to be discovered in France. |
| The neighborhood was twice ravaged by fire, at the beginning of the second century and again in the middle of the third century. | The neighborhood was twice ravaged by fire, at the beginning of the second century and again in the middle of the third century. |
| Paradoxically, “the fires permitted the conservation of the architecture,” Mr. Clément, who also works at the University of Lyon, said in a phone interview. The fires carbonized the wood beams that had been used to set off spaces in homes and also effectively baked the bricks between the beams, he said. “This allowed the preservation of the architecture as if it were stone,” he said. | Paradoxically, “the fires permitted the conservation of the architecture,” Mr. Clément, who also works at the University of Lyon, said in a phone interview. The fires carbonized the wood beams that had been used to set off spaces in homes and also effectively baked the bricks between the beams, he said. “This allowed the preservation of the architecture as if it were stone,” he said. |
| The fires essentially froze in place much of the neighborhood’s architecture, including even the artifacts left behind by residents fleeing the blazes, “transforming the sector into a veritable ‘little Pompeii’ of Vienne,” according to Archeodunum. | The fires essentially froze in place much of the neighborhood’s architecture, including even the artifacts left behind by residents fleeing the blazes, “transforming the sector into a veritable ‘little Pompeii’ of Vienne,” according to Archeodunum. |
| In the case of the Ste.-Colombe find, excavation began on April 3 in preparation for the construction of a housing complex on an area covering nearly 60,000 square feet. Because of the significance of the find, the archaeological work, originally intended to last six months, will be extended until the end of the year. | |
| A team of 15 archaeologists and five interns have been working on the site, Mr. Clément said. | A team of 15 archaeologists and five interns have been working on the site, Mr. Clément said. |
| Some materials — including doors, hinges and even the head of an ax — were made of iron, which was oxidized by the fires, preventing the usual corrosion, Mr. Clément said. | Some materials — including doors, hinges and even the head of an ax — were made of iron, which was oxidized by the fires, preventing the usual corrosion, Mr. Clément said. |
| He compared the find to “an instant photograph of life at the beginning of the second century, and at the middle of the third century.” | He compared the find to “an instant photograph of life at the beginning of the second century, and at the middle of the third century.” |
| A large public complex, possibly a school of philosophy, was built after the second fire. Some beautifully preserved mosaic tiles from the building were found, including one from a central medallion that includes depictions of Thalia, the muse of comedy, and Pan, the bacchanalian deity. | A large public complex, possibly a school of philosophy, was built after the second fire. Some beautifully preserved mosaic tiles from the building were found, including one from a central medallion that includes depictions of Thalia, the muse of comedy, and Pan, the bacchanalian deity. |
| Another part of the complex includes a temple that evidently contained an altar, dedicated to an unknown god. Workers discovered a bronze medal struck in the year 191, and presented by Commodus, the emperor at the time, in the ruins of the temple. It might have belonged to one of the priests. (Commodus, whose reign was short and violent, is the villain of Ridley Scott’s 2000 movie “Gladiator.”) | Another part of the complex includes a temple that evidently contained an altar, dedicated to an unknown god. Workers discovered a bronze medal struck in the year 191, and presented by Commodus, the emperor at the time, in the ruins of the temple. It might have belonged to one of the priests. (Commodus, whose reign was short and violent, is the villain of Ridley Scott’s 2000 movie “Gladiator.”) |
| The complex was abandoned by the fourth century, and largely fell into obscurity. A necropolis from the Middle Ages, the site of about 40 burials, is the last trace of regular human habitation of the site, according to Archeodunum. | The complex was abandoned by the fourth century, and largely fell into obscurity. A necropolis from the Middle Ages, the site of about 40 burials, is the last trace of regular human habitation of the site, according to Archeodunum. |