Roman Paris Was Not In Paris, But Nanterre

Expatica ^ | 2-26-2004

[blam]

Roman Paris was not in Paris, but Nanterre

PARIS, Feb 26 (AFP) - The historic Paris - the Gallic town of Lutetia captured by Julius Caesar in 52 BC - lay not on the island in the centre of the modern French capital but in a suburb 10 kilometres (six miles) to the west, according to archaeological evidence published on Thursday.

Recent excavations at a building site in the suburb of Nanterre have brought to light a pre-Roman settlement that far outstrips in density and sophistication traces discovered on the Ile de la Cite - until now regarded as the main base of the Parisii tribe.

"Nanterre is the only agglomeration of size identified on the territory of the Parisii. Until now no significant remains from an occupation predating the Roman conquest have been found on the Ile de la Cite," said Alain Bulard, of the directorate for cultural affairs for the Paris area.

The Nanterre site, discovered near the bank of the river Seine at the end of last year, has revealed a rigidly planned urban area constructed around two parallel cobbled streets and a market square, Le Monde newspaper reported.

Ditches drained away waste water and each home, constructed out of wood and a clay-straw mixture, possessed its own stone-lined well. Items found on the scene include bronze brooches, coins and a cooking fork.

Taken together with a previously discovered site - also dating from around 200 BC - containing kilns and other evidence of handicrafts, the entire Gallic settlement spread over 15 hectares (37 acres), which is nearly double the size of the supposed proto-capital in central Paris.

First mentioned in book seven of Caesar's Gallic Wars, where it is described as being on an island on the river Seine, the Lutetia of the Parisii has traditionally been identified with the Ile de la Cite - not least because it went on to form the centre of the Roman town and the later French capital.

However a revisionist school of archaeologists challenges the accepted wisdom and the Nanterre dig has boosted their counter-theory.

"The topographical situation of the site was remarkable. In a great loop of the Seine it was at the time like a peninsula and easily defensible. In a siege the population could live off the ... fields, grassland and forest. The Roman invader would not have been indifferent to these assets," Bulard told Le Monde.

Unfortunately the vagueness of Caesar's description means the argument is unlikely to be settled.

"The debate is all Caesar's fault. He was too imprecise in his description of the oppidum of the Parisii. Until we find an inscription saying "Id est Lutetia" (This is Lutetia), we will never be able to prove definitively that it lay in Nanterre," Bulard said.

© AFP

[blam]

GGG

[Semper Vigilantis]

No one wanted to visit paris 2056 years ago, either.

[Dog Gone]

"The debate is all Caesar's fault. He was too imprecise in his description of the oppidum of the Parisii.

Oh great, it's Caeser's fault. Blame everything on the Italians, the Germans, or the Americans.

[Darksheare]

Until we find an inscription saying "Id est Lutetia" (This is Lutetia), we will never be able to prove definitively that it lay in Nanterre," Bulard said.

Egads, they even say that about other things.
"Until we find stuff labeled ______(fill in the blank) we will never be sure!"

What if they plot the course of the local rivers at the time of Ceasar's conquest?
What do they find then?
The article says that Nanterre was on a defensible peninsula with a river loop around it.

[RonF]

Look at historical maps of any major river and you will find over the course of hundreds of years that penninsulas become islands, islands become penninsulas, and sites 5 miles inland today were on the riverbank a century ago.

[southernnorthcarolina]

Until we find an inscription saying "Id est Lutetia" (This is Lutetia), we will never be able to prove definitively that it lay in Nanterre," Bulard said.

How about an inscription saying "We surrender"?

[Darksheare]

LOL!
Probably it will start out with 'Allons' and end with 'fromage.'
*chuckle*

[farmfriend]

Gods, Graves, Glyphs
List for articles regarding early civilizations , life of all forms, - dinosaurs - etc.
Let me know if you wish to be added or removed from this ping list.

[muleskinner]

The Romans set the mold for the future of french armies,

and Conan, the description

"Crush your enemies(the french), see them driven before you, and hear the lamentation of the women".

[blam]

"Look at historical maps of any major river and you will find over the course of hundreds of years that penninsulas become islands, islands become penninsulas, and sites 5 miles inland today were on the riverbank a century ago."

Abraham's home town of Ur was a sea-side town when he lived there. It is almost 100 miles inland today.

[2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten]

I bet the Romans bathed more often than the current occupants.

[Antoninus]

From Procopius of Caesarea, writing in the mid-6th century AD...

"[The Franks] forgot for the moment their oaths and treaties they had made a little before with both the Romans and the Goths (for this nation in matters of trust is the most treacherous in the world), they straightway gathered to the number of one hundred thousand under the leadership of Theudibert, and marched into Italy." [Gothic Wars, VI, xxv]

In 1400 years, things haven't changed much. BTW, this Frankish invasion of Italy ended in an embarassing withdrawal for the Franks, despite their overwhelming numerical superiority. One third of them died of dysentery.

[SunkenCiv]

Just updating the GGG information, not sending a general distribution.

Please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list. Thanks.

Please FREEPMAIL me if you want on, off, or alter the "Gods, Graves, Glyphs" PING list --
Archaeology/Anthropology/Ancient Cultures/Artifacts/Antiquities, etc.
The GGG Digest -- Gods, Graves, Glyphs (alpha order)