The Gallo-Roman forum of Vieux-la-Romaine belongs to the archaeological site of the ancient Aregenua, situated approximately south of Caen.
As a symbol of a Roman city in Gallia Lugdunensis, the forum was a key site showcasing the process of Romanization. It served as a hub for administrative, judicial, and religious functions, reaching its peak in the 2nd and early 3rd centuries. However, the city began to decline in the Crisis of the Third Century due to invasions and the lack of protective walls. The administrative reorganization of the Western Roman Empire in the early 5th century led to Aregenua losing its status as the capital city, which was transferred to Bayeux.
The forum site has been the focus of archaeological excavations since the 17th century, initiated by the Society of Antiquaries of Normandy. The exact location of the forum was a subject of debate until recent research in the late 20th and early 21st centuries confirmed its position. Excavations at Vieux resumed, and, through modern research techniques and traditional archaeological digs spanning nine years, the eastern part of the complex was uncovered.
Location
The town of Vieux-la-Romaine is situated approximately southwest of Caen and from the Channel. It is located in the Orne valley and bordered by the La Guigne.
Vieux-la-Romaine is located at the site of the ancient city of Aregenua, a thriving urban center spanning over and inhabited by the Viducasses. At the start of this era, the area was densely forested and home to a large population of wild boars. It boasted rich natural resources such as chalk, sandstone, and shale, ideal for construction purposes.
The "Champ des Crêtes" site covers an area of . In this densely populated area, the dwellings were connected by a "system of streets with facade galleries" and a network of roads dating back to the 2nd century. Two thermae were discovered in the Forum district, with one located just northeast of the building excavated during the initial dig. One notable domus is the House with the Grand Peristyle.
Not far away is another , which was excavated in the 18th and 19th centuries. This building, measuring about , appears to have been divided between men and women. The baths were donated to the city by the will of Sollemninus at the end of the 2nd century or the beginning of the 3rd century. Sollemninus laid the foundations of the baths, and his son Titus Sennius Solemnis completed the construction in 234 before bequeathing revenues to the city. These baths featured all the amenities of the time, including alternating hot, warm, and cold rooms, gyms, hypocausts, and pools.
Dominique Bertin-Halbout proposed locating the forum between the Church of Saint-Laurent de Vieux and the remains of the baths, at the intersection of the Cardo Maximus and the Decumanus Maximus. This hypothesis is supported by archaeological excavations conducted between April and September 1982, which revealed a portion of the forum.
History
History of the city
The first artifacts found on the site date back to the 1st century BC. The city of Aregenua was founded in the 1st century, likely during the Augustan age, and served as the seat of the Viducasses. The city flourished under the rule of Roman emperors Tiberius and Claudius, reaching its peak in the 2nd and 3rd centuries. Roman-style public buildings began to appear around 120-140 AD. At its height, the city covered an area of between , most likely , with a population estimated at 5,000. Aregenua enjoyed certain privileges, such as exemption from the land tax owed to Rome () and the granting of the (Latin law), which facilitated its growth. During this period, the city acquired monuments including theaters and thermal baths; were also built, such as the House with the Grand Peristyle, dating from the time of the Severan dynasty. In the 2nd century, the city changed its name to Civitas Viducassium.
A significant turning point in the city's history was its incorporation into the Gallic Empire, as evidenced by the discovery of two dedications to consuls of Postumus, found on an altar dedicated to Mars anf dated to between 263 and 267. In crisis of the Third Century, the city entered a period of decline, with Bayeux gaining prominence. Just like Jublains, the city did not have a protective wall, which neighboring cities such as Lisieux, Bayeux, and Évreux did. By the mid-3rd century, several districts of the city were abandoned, although some artisans, such as mosaicists, tablet makers, and glassmakers, continued to operate. Archaeological excavations indicate that no new construction took place towards the end of the 3rd century. In the early 4th century, metallurgical workshops replaced houses near the House with a Grand Peristyle, and roads were renovated and expanded, with a new street cutting through the House with a Grand Peristyle. The city lost its status as the regional capital around 400, as documented by historical sources.
Between the 5th and 7th centuries, there is limited information available about the city, except for the establishment of Christianity, supported by the discovery of four early Christian funeral inscriptions. During this time, the city became more ruralized.
During the Merovingian dynasty, the city saw a resurgence, evidenced by the discovery of numerous tombs dating back to the 7th and 8th centuries. However, there was another decline in the Middle Ages, leading to the relocation of inhabitants to a more northern site. Despite continuous habitation, the city did not become a bishopric seat like Bayeux.
History of the forum The forum was constructed in the early 2nd century, underwent modifications in the same century, and further enhancements in the first third of the 3rd century. During the early 3rd century, the forum decoration was enriched, reflecting "the peak period experienced by the capital".
After a political and administrative shift, the forum was repurposed as a butcher's shop at the end of the 3rd century. The territory of the Viducasses' city was partially absorbed by Bayeux.
Rediscovery
16th – 19th centuries The first discoveries on this site date back to the 16th century with the unveiling of the Thorigny Marble.
The "Champ des Crêtes" site, spanning and situated near the forum, has undergone multiple excavations. The first excavation took place in the 17th century in the southern part of the village, leading to the discovery of ancient and medieval remnants. Subsequently, in 1703, Nicolas-Joseph Foucault, the intendant of the generalité of Caen, conducted further excavations in the area.
Subsequent excavations were carried out during various periods between 1839 and 1861, notably by Arcisse de Caumont and Antoine Charma. In 1828, C-A Gervais explored the same area as Intendant Foucault, revealing the baths and the gymnasium. In February and March 1840, François Besongnet and Charles Gervais continued C-A Gervais' work, determining that the forum was situated in another part of the site. Arcisse de Caumont arrived at the site on March 19, 1840, to create plans of the uncovered walls, and discovered the three rows of steps of the Curia. The excavations conducted by the Society of Antiquaries of Normandy under Antoine Charma in 1859 focused on previously excavated buildings, providing precise plans and detailed descriptions of the marble decorations used in the forum. However, Antoine Charma's excavations did involve some incorrect interpretations, as he mistakenly identified the decorative frescoes as belonging to the baths rather than a senate building or basilica. A plan was drafted by Georges-Aimar Lavalley-Duperroux at that time, which was only rediscovered in the Calvados departmental archives in 1991.
20th century In the early 20th century, Maurice Besnier, in his book Histoire des fouilles de Vieux, attempted to pinpoint the forum location by analyzing excavations conducted by the Society of Antiquaries of Normandy in the previous century.
In 1972, a new archaeological excavation campaign commenced. Two probes measuring were conducted to analyze the site stratigraphy. These excavations unearthed artifacts dating from the 1st century, during the reigns of Roman emperors Tiberius and Nero, up to the mid-4th century.
In 1977, Christian Pilet continued Maurice Besnier's research and identified two distinct groups of baths, locating the forum in a different area on the site. Aerial photographs taken in 1987 and 1989 provided further clarity on the layout of the walls. In 1991, Lavalley-Duperroux's plan was discovered in the Calvados departmental archives, enhancing the interpretation of archaeological findings.
21st century In 2005, towed electrical prospecting surveys were conducted to pinpoint the forum location and generate three interpretation maps.
The Council of Calvados acquired the parcel of Champ des Crêtes shortly before 2006, turning it into an archaeological reserve. Subsequent archaeological excavations, organized by the archaeological service of the Calvados General Council in 2007, led to the development of an overall plan for the forum. In the same year, two research phases were conducted, focusing on the houses and urban layout of the city. The first phase, carried out in June and July 2007, through sondages, helped create the forum plan and pinpoint the location of the Curia. These excavations revealed part of the central square of the forum and, with the help of two perpendicular trenches, revealed stones and blocks of Vieux marble.The second phase commenced in 2008 and extended over several years.
Architecture
Layout of Aregenua
Aregenua was constructed following the tripartite plan typical of many western cities in the Roman Empire. The administrative buildings were clustered together to create a central hub consisting of the basilica, the Curia, and other municipal structures. This hub was established in the early 2nd century and underwent further enhancements towards the end of the century. By the 3rd century, the construction projects were largely finished, but a gradual architectural decline set in. During this period, some public buildings were replaced by a butcher's shop, which primarily catered to the trade of cattle and pigs until the 4th century.
In theory, the forum is situated at the intersection of the Cardo and Decumanus. However, in reality, only the Decumanus is visible at this site, with several also evident. The forum, positioned on a south-facing slope, combined political, religious, judicial, and commercial functions.
The building located northeast of the Champ des Crêtes baths features marble floors and an apse. Electrical prospecting has revealed a square area measuring , with a portico and shops on the southern side. Another structure, possibly a temple, measuring has been identified. As early as 2005, it was suggested that these functions, including "organs of civic and religious life," indicate the presence of a forum. Additionally, the existence of a basilica, serving as a center for commerce and justice, was also under consideration.
The location of the complex is a reflection of the city's history. The nucleus of the colony may be situated beneath this complex, as the blocks in this area are smaller, at , than the larger peripheral blocks, which were . The forum likely stayed in its original location, which means it is not positioned at the geometric center of the Viducasses' city.
Archaeological reconstruction Archaeological excavations have made it possible to reconstruct a detailed picture of Aregenua, particularly because no modern settlement has been built over the Gallo-Roman remains. This type of preservation is quite exceptional for an ancient capital city, similar to the case of Jublains. The first discovery, the , dates back to 1580, and systematic excavations began at the site in 1697, 45 years before those at Pompeii.