New Roman district discovered in Lyon

Recent archaeological excavations have revealed a first century military barracks located just next to the ramparts of the ancient Roman city in the Fourvière district of Lyon. The site is divided into three parts, including a Roman house, a fort with a weapons store and an armaments terrace.

A new district of the Roman Empire has been discovered on the heights of Lyon
[Credit: Joser Pizarro/123rf]

This major archaeological discovery, covering 650 square metres, could shed new light on the last moments of the Battle of Lyon in AD 197, between the legions of the Emperor Septimius Severus and the usurper Clodius Albinus.

"We are searching a battlefield scene with all the remains of the fighting that took place in an urban environment with arrowheads, artillery pieces, spears, equipment that fell during the fighting and even the head of a legionnaire beheaded as a result of this capture, and that is exceptional for us. It allows us to document these archaeological remains and then, above all, to forge a link between the history of the area and to collect what we discover and know through the texts and historical knowledge of the Roman Empire," said Benjamin Clément, the archeologist in charge of the excavation.

The site is divided into sectors according to the buildings excavated, but also into terraces
that allow excavation at several heights [Credit: Progress/Pierre Petitcolin]

Many throwing weapons were left behind by the Romans after the fighting like this pilum head,
a kind of javelin [Credit: Progress/Pierre Petitcolin]

The hundred or so objects for military use constitute a third of the objects found on the site
[Credit: Progress/Pierre Petitcolin]

Numerous remains of weapons were discovered during the excavations
[Credit: Lorène Paul]

Albinus, defeated, took refuge in the city before being arrested and beheaded. The emperor looted the city to punish all those who had supported the rebel. And at the time, Lugdunum was full of wealth. It is one of the only cities which, together with Rome, could mint coins.

"The building in question was deliberately destroyed so that weapons or other objects would not be stolen. That's why they are still in very good condition," says Benjamin Clément, emphasizing the quality of the discoveries.

This coin comes from a box of seals, which were used to mark official documents and letters
of the eagle of the Roman legion [Credit: Progress/Pierre Petitcolin]

The legionnaires were fond of board games. Some played with dice, like this one made of bone
[Credit: Progress/Pierre Petitcolin]

The construction site ramp was built on an alleyway that provided access to a scriptorium, where documents
from the Roman military administration were kept [Credit: Progress/Pierre Petitcolin]

Archaeologists have also found many objects related to everyday life, whether used for bathing such as ear scrubs or tweezers, or for the soldiers to pass their time in the evening during the city's defence, such as dice or tokens. Dishes, pots, pans and jugs necessary for the preparation of meals were also found in the kitchen's storage room.

"Finding everyday objects and weapons in one place is rather unusual. And there are rarely so many of them on an archaeological site," Clément adds.

Most of the objects will be entrusted to the CREAM de Vienne, which specialises in the restoration of archaeological objects. In total, there are nearly 100 pieces of armaments and 300 everyday objects listed on the site since the beginning of June.

The excavations have now been completed at the end and will continue next year. The project is being carried out jointly by the Archaeological Service of the City of Lyon, the University of Lumière Lyon 2 and the ArAr laboratory (CNRS Lyon).

Source: Lyon Mag [trsl. TANN, July 21, 2019]