Roman Ruins Found in France Are Called 'Exceptional' [Vienne]

New York Times ^ | August 2, 2017 | Anne-Sophie Bolon and Sewell Chan

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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.

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 was twice ravaged by fire, at the beginning of the second century and again in the middle of the third century.

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Roman Ruins: Archaeologists discover ancient remains | August 5, 2017 | TRT World

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The Temple of Augustus and Livia | The Real France

Roman Amphitheatre | The Real France

[SunkenCiv]

There are actually other topics already in the Vienne keyword.

[Celtic Conservative]

I believe the modern name for the temple is the “Maison Caree”.

CC

[Celtic Conservative]

My mistake. I confused this temple for a similar templenin Nimes, France.

CC

[GOP Poet]

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[pierrem15]

I remember reading about a dig at Vienne in the late 19th century or early 20th where the archaeologists took down some medieval houses and were amazed to find a well preserved amphitheater underneath.

The locals still called the street leading there, "Rue du Theatre." Guess they missed that clue.

[jimtorr]

The locals still called the street leading there, "Rue du Theatre."

Yes. If the locals are not displaced or killed by war or plague, place names change very slowly, if at all. Sometimes local legends are true.

Another example is Paris. The city locale was the headquarters of the Parisii tribe of Gaul.

[SunkenCiv]

Ah! That must be why I thought I’d seen a pic of that temple before!