SAINTE COLOMBE: A “little Pompeii” is how French archaeologists are describing an entire ancient Roman neighbourhood uncovered on the outskirts of the south-eastern city of Vienne, featuring remarkably preserved remains of luxury homes and public buildings. Vienne — famous for its Roman theatre and temple — was an important hub on the route connecting northern Gaul with the Roman province of Gallia Narbonensis in southern France.

The site unearthed on land awaiting construction of a housing complex covers an area of nearly 75,000 square feet — an unusually large discovery in an urban area that has been labelled an “exceptional find” by the French culture ministry.

The neighbourhood, which contains homes dating to the 1st century AD, is believed to have been inhabited for around 300 years before being abandoned after a series of fires.

Among the structures to have partly survived are an imposing home dubbed the Bacchanalian House after a tiled floor depicting a procession of maenads (female followers of the god of wine, known variably as Dionysus or Bacchus) and joyful half-man, half-goat creatures known as satyrs. Among the other finds are a large public building with a fountain adorned by a statue of Hercules, built at the site of a former market.

The excavations, which began in April, had been due to end in mid-September but have been extended by the French state until the end of the year to allow time for more discoveries.

Published in Dawn, August 2nd, 2017