Anderitum, known as ad Gabalos in the late 3rd century and as Javols in subsequent centuries, is a Gallo-Roman town located in the French department of Lozère, within the current territory of the commune of Peyre-en-Aubrac. It functioned as the capital of the civitas of the Gabali from the late 1st century BC until approximately the 5th century AD.
Anderitum was probably established following a scattered La Tène culture settlement that extended beyond the ancient town's site. It was probably founded during the reign of Augustus in the last two decades of the 1st century BC, like many civitas capitals. By the 2nd century, the town reached its peak, covering approximately 40 hectares with a population of several thousand inhabitants. It included several residences, three identified domus, an amphitheater or possibly a theater-amphitheater, two thermal establishments, and a civic center with a forum, a curia, and a basilica. The urban layout followed an orthogonal street grid. However, its peak was short-lived, and the town began to decline as early as the following century, making Anderitum one of the "ephemeral capitals" of Roman Gaul. The capital was later moved to Mende in the Middle Ages, which increased its political and economic importance as the diocesan seat. Consequently, the ancient town of Anderitum gradually gave way to the village of Javols.
Archaeological explorations and excavations in the town's center started in the 19th century. The remains of Anderitum's monumental center were designated as historical monuments in 1954, with the entire site receiving protection in 1991. Landscape enhancements have recreated the street layout of the agglomeration, and restoration work on key remains has enhanced the visitor experience. Virtual reality technologies provide a reconstruction of the ancient town.
Toponomy The commonly accepted etymology of the toponym Anderitum among toponymists and Celtic linguistics specialists is based on two roots from Old Continental Celtic (Gaulish): ande + rito- with the Latin suffix -um. This would mean "in front of the ford" or rather "large ford," with ande (and-, ando) also being an intensive particle. It is noted that the element ande also appears in the proper name "awning," Old Provençal amban, "advanced fortification work," and Languedocian embans "shop awning" from Gaulish *ande-banno-. The element rito- "ford" (cf. Old Welsh rit > Welsh rhyd: ford) is frequently encountered in Gaulish toponymy. It explains certain endings in -or- (Jort, Gisors, etc.) and also some -roy or -ray (cf. Gerberoy, Longroy, Mauray, Mauroi) likely linked to its late survival in proto-Roman times in northern France.
It is likely that towards the end of the 3rd century, the town's name appeared in the syntagma ad Gabalos, evolving into the Occitan Gaboul by the 13th century,: L'évolution du site, des origines au Moyen ge simply meaning "the town of the Gabales." This naming phenomenon was common in Roman Gaul, where the capitals of civitas adopted the name of the people. For example, Tours, formerly Caesarodunum, was renamed Turones, which means "among the Turons"; the same applies to Beauvais, Le Mans and Limoges, Périgueux.: Javols/Anderitum et les Gabales
Historical and geographical context
Foundation as a political decision
Julius Caesar refers to Gabali's people as "clients" of the Arverni in Commentaries on the Gallic War (VII, VII, 2 and VII, LXXV, 2).: Les agglomérations antiques dans le Massif central Augustus' choice to establish the civitas of the Gabales on the outskirts of the Arverni territory and designate Anderitum as its capital was probably intended to weaken this reliance and reduce the geographical and demographic significance, and consequently the political influence, of the Arverni.: Javols/Anderitum et les Gabales
The identification of Anderitum with Javols has been widely accepted since the 20th century, but this was not always the case. In the 1820s, Charles Athanase Walckenaer argued that Anderitum had become Anterrieux in Cantal. However, the debate was settled in 1828 with the fortuitous discovery of a milestone while searching for stones to restore the church. The milestone bears the inscription: "Under the reign of Emperor Caesar Marcus Cassianius Latinius Postumus, invincible, pious, fortunate, Augustus, high priest, endowed with tribunician power, father of the country, four times consul, the city of the Gabales". Such a dedication, collectively "signed" by the civitas, can only be conceived in its capital.: Javols-Anderitum dans l'Histoire
Important road junction
The town of Anderitum is listed on the Peutinger map between the stations of Condate (Pont de Vabres west of Alleyras) to the northeast and Ad Silanum (Puech Crémat-Bas south of Nasbinals) to the southwest, along the road connecting Reuessione (Ruessium/Saint-Paulien) to Segoduni (Segodunum/Rodez).: Sources antiques et données archéologiques The name Anderitum is also mentioned by Claudius Ptolemy as Andérèdon (Άνδέρηδον) in the 2nd century (Geography, II, 7, 11) and by the Ravenna Cosmography as Andereton in the 7th century (Cosmographie, IV, 26).
Anderitum was a crucial junction on the route from Lugdunum (Lyon) to the Ruteni, with their capital at Segodunum. This road intersected at Anderitum with another axis running north–south, linking Clermont-Ferrand to Languedoc and the Mediterranean Sea.: Javols/Anderitum et les Gabales Anderitum was the main settlement in the northern part of the Gabales civitas, serving as a hub for the road network.: Synthèse : de l'agglomération à la cité Two potential roads could have connected Anderitum to Banassac and then Millau, as well as to Mende and Nîmes. Anderitum might have been strategically located at the crossroads of existing roads, or these roads could have been developed after the town's establishment.
Valley surrounded by hills
The site is located in the widened valley of the Triboulin, a tributary of the Truyère, and extends up the surrounding hills, with altitudes ranging from 972 to 1,015 meters.: Javols/Anderitum et les Gabales These topographical conditions led to the construction of terraces to accommodate some buildings, either by excavating the natural substrate or by filling. During antiquity, the Triboulin, flowing from south to north, was channeled through the site with the establishment of the "Javols quays." As the town declined, the river resumed its natural course; in modern times, the average level of the stream has risen by at least 1.5 meters compared to antiquity.: L'évolution du Triboulin The seasonal regime of the river, characterized by torrential floods, likely required this arrangement. Additionally, fossil pre-Roman channels observed in the monumental center indicate that the course of the Triboulin has naturally shifted over the centuries.
The area around Anderitum was mostly deforested during the La Tène period. In ancient times, mixed forests, meadows, and fields for growing cereals and vines existed.: Une dimension environnementale The wood used, probably cut down locally, included common beech, fir, and Scots pine, with some oak and hazel trees.: L'environnement du site de Javols
History
Pre-Roman occupation
The occupation of the Anderitum region until the Iron Age is evidenced by stone tools from the Paleolithic (rough hand axe) or Neolithic (flint tools): La Préhistoire et la Protohistoire ancienne and by a combustion structure on the site's western heights (Late Neolithic-Chalcolithic).
The Bronze Age and Hallstatt periods are poorly documented, with more substantial evidence appearing during the La Tène period when the site was permanently settled. The exact nature and extent of this occupation, which is evident from the 2nd century BC, still needs to be defined. It was not a significant oppidum that could function as a "capital", but rather a collection of dispersed settlements on the surrounding heights, including one on Barry Hill to the south, likely of a cultic nature. Moreover, the presence of Gallic and Republican coins,: L'évolution du site, des origines au Moyen ge fragmented ceramic shards, and Italic amphorae suggests a fairly extensive and consistent occupation of the plain. Some artifacts may have been washed down from the hills into the valley. Peri-urban sites also indicate La Tène occupation that persisted until at least the 3rd century AD.: Occupation du sol et paysage rural autour de Javols
Augustan foundation
The Roman establishment of Anderitum as a planned town probably occurred during the reign of Augustus, around 15 BC, which was a common practice for many civitas capitals at that time. This coincided with the emperor's third visit to Gaul. Archaeological findings such as road segments and numerous dupondii coins from Nîmes support this dating. However, there is limited knowledge of the buildings from that era, with only a few architectural remnants found and reused in later constructions. The reason for selecting a peripheral location within the civitas territory remains unclear.: L'évolution du site, des origines au Moyen ge
A few years later, at the beginning of our era, a part of the urban grid was established, including the civic center (forum, curia), private homes, and drainage operations to reclaim a marshy area on the left bank of the Triboulin. Although based on somewhat limited evidence, this chronology would place Anderitum in line with many other towns in Gaul.: Une fondation urbaine augustéenne?
Peak during the Early Empire A significant phase of urbanization occurred in the second half of the 1st century during the Flavian dynasty. This period saw the enhancement of the street network, the construction of the first public buildings (western baths), and the development of numerous private residences. Granite quarries located on the outskirts of the town were utilized to provide construction materials, and at least one of the two known necropolises was established during this time. This progression is characteristic of many Gallo-Roman towns.: Évolution de la ville au Haut-Empire
During the 2nd century, the first buildings in Anderitum were either rebuilt or renovated (such as the civic center and western baths), while new constructions (the eastern baths and private buildings) were also added. Artisan workshops began operating within the town and its outskirts, and an urban dump was established.: Évolution de la ville au Haut-Empire This period marked Anderitum's peak,: L'évolution du site, des origines au Moyen ge likely corresponding to the reigns of Hadrian and Antoninus Pius. The capital of the civitas of the Gabales may have covered 35 to 40 hectares, with 5.8 hectares densely built and organized on the left bank of the Triboulin. The population of Anderitum could have reached a few thousand inhabitants.: Javols du Moyen ge central aux Temps Modernes (xe-xixe siècle)
Contraction during the Late Empire
Gradual decline