Ancient settlement teeming with treasures was abandoned 1,900 years ago. See it now
Toward the end of the first century B.C., a small settlement was established atop a sloping hill overlooking an emerging capital city in France. For nearly 200 years the site was a seemingly prosperous establishment — until it was mysteriously abandoned during the second century A.D.
Now, construction in Sainte-Catherine-lès-Arras have led archaeologists to the site’s ancient ruins, including limestone pits, cellars and even a rare latrine, according to a Jan. 24 news release from the Institut national de recherches archéologiques préventives (INRAP).
Archaeologists examined artifacts at the site to determine three chronological phases of its existence between 50 B.C. and 140 A.D.
Among their discoveries, experts identified two water wells and a potter’s kiln built to allow for the circulation of hot gases, officials said.
Here’s what else was found at the site.
A limestone extraction pit
The oldest ruins at the site are the remains of a limestone pit that was created in the early first century B.C., according to officials.
The oval-shaped pit, measuring about 26 feet by 30 feet, was probably used for the recovery of materials to create the internal fillings of walls, experts said.
Later, the pit served as a waste receptacle for everyday items, including various brooches, coins and ceramics.
Archaeologists said the artifacts they found in the pit date from the pit’s creation to the end of the settlement.
Two cellars with different architecture styles
Two cellars were located at the site — the first dating to the second half of the first century B.C. and the second dating to the first century A.D.
Experts said the older cellar is dug out of a chalky substance, so it’s walls were likely reinforced with planks to prevent them from disintegrating. There may have been a staircase or ladder in place to reach the bottom of the cellar.
In the cellar, archaeologists unearthed a portable grindstone in two pieces. The circular stone tool has a hole in the center and a side opening.
The second cellar was created later, and it has a more solid, limestone brick construction.
The cellar is about 20 feet long, but archaeologists could only excavate a small part of its width, they said. It has an unusual staircase, with a width of about 5 feet, and there is a niche in one of the walls lining the steps.
Like the limestone pit, the brick cellar also was used as a dump once it was no longer in use.
Inside, archaeologists unearthed several fragments of painted coatings, limestone rubble, ceramics and shells. They said these artifacts likely came from a residential building, but they don’t know where that building was located.
A rare latrine
An approximately 10-foot hole that was utilized as a latrine was also found at the site, according to officials.
Experts identified the hole by the brown oxidation seen on its limestone walls as well as the remains of construction materials, including limestone and Roman tiles.
Although latrines and cesspools are not unusual in ancient ruins, they are rare for smaller rural settlements, archaeologists said. The discovery of the latrine indicates that the ancient society that once lived in the settlement really cared about hygiene.
Inside the latrine, experts also found a variety of artifacts, including a circular bronze phalère — a plaque that decorated a horse harness. Experts said the plaque, which was almost certainly used by the military, had a removable medallion adorned with a lion’s mouth in its center.
Sainte-Catherine-lès-Arras is in north France, about 120 miles north of Paris.
Google Translate was used to translate a news release from INRAP.
This story was originally published January 26, 2024 at 3:15 PM with the headline "Ancient settlement teeming with treasures was abandoned 1,900 years ago. See it now."
