Alauna is a Gallo-Roman town, whose remains are located in the former commune of in Valognes, France.
Alauna, situated in the northern region of the Cotentin Peninsula, appears to have been established during the reign of Augustus. It underwent significant development during the first century and was extensively occupied during the Gaulish era. It was connected to many towns in the area and is on the Tabula Peutingeriana and Antonine Itinerary. It was the capital of a civitas at some point during the Roman Empire, which declined significantly during the 3rd century. In the Middle Ages, when urbanization resumed in Valognes especially near the Merderet, Alauna became the land for agricultural activities, primarily for livestock farming, a vocation that continues into the 21st century in a landscape.
The Ancient Baths of Alauna, which are situated to the north of the city, were added to the list of French protected historical monuments in 1862, and were named a Monument historique. The outskirts of Alauna became a craft center including butchers, forges, and shopping areas.
History and geographical setting Plateau site in the northwest of the Paris Basin
Alauna is situated 1.6 km southeast of on the northwest edge of a plateau between two parallel thalwegs oriented northwest-southeast, which limit it to the east and west. This plateau dominates the depression to the southeast in which the Merderet flows, near the river's sources. While a significant portion of the ancient city's southeastern region is situated on the plateau at an elevation exceeding 50 meters (60 meters near the spectacle building), the remainder follows the valley's slope, with inclines occasionally reaching 10 percent. The baths, situated to the northwest, occupy the lowest point at an altitude of 38 meters. The towns of Valognes and Alleaume are located on the opposite side of the Merderet.
A layer of varying thickness of loam, red clays, sands, and pebbles from the Rhaetian period covers the top of the plateau. On the plateau's slopes, formations deposited in the Hettangian period during a marine transgression are present, including the Calcaire de Valognes, which is the predominant rock type in Alauna that occupies the northwestern edge of the Paris Basin Local geological resources have been exploited since the beginning of antiquity, with quarries located west of the town for the construction of Alaunas buildings and roads.
Dense communication network
The Peutinger Table indicates that the ancient station of Alauna, which is not represented by a vignette like important towns, was situated on the Roman road connecting it to Coriallo (Cherbourg). The road continues southeast towards Crociatonum, which may be Saint-Côme-du-Mont or Carentan, the , Augustodurum, and (Vieux) before heading towards Rotomagus (Rouen) along the coast.
Another road on the Antonine Itinerary, commences from Alauna and proceeds to the south towards Cosedia/Constancia (Coutances), (Avranches), and Condate Riedonum (Rennes).
Archaeological evidence Alauna was linked to the Cotentin coastline. To the southwest, a route extends to the and Portbail, which appears to correspond to the ancient town of Grannonum. It extends to the northeast through the road traverses the Val de Saire before reaching the coast at Barfleur or Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue. To the north, Alauna is connected to Cherbourg and Fermanville.
In addition to the main routes that have been confirmed by archaeological evidence, Alauna was also situated at the heart of a network of ancient roads and paths that irrigated the peninsula up to the Cap de la Hague. However, the incomplete state of research across the Cotentin likely understates the importance of this network.
Urban interconnections to clarify Alauna appears at the center of a "road star" connected by roads or paths to numerous other sites in the Cotentin and beyond. Some of these routes are documented by ancient written sources, while others are gradually revealed by archaeology. These communication routes can be easily connected to the urban network of cardines and decumani, as identified and sometimes formally identified. This would explain certain deviations in the alignment of these urban roads in the town's periphery. Researches made it likely that irregularities were results of topographical constraints.
The southern decumanus identified in the ancient city appears to have played a significant role in facilitating long-distance connections, with its extensions seemingly oriented towards Portbail to the west and the to the east. In contrast, the cardo maximus seems connected to the northern coast of the Cotentin at two distinct points, namely Coriallo/Cherbourg and Fermanville. To the south, it is probable that the road leading towards Coutances represents the southernmost extent of the decumanus maximus. However, the precise nature of this connection requires further investigation. Additionally, a road running parallel to the theatre to the east extends towards the Val de Saire.
Political status
Alauna is traditionally located in the northern part of the civitas of the Unelli. No ancient text specifies the chief town of the civitas. While some historians and archaeologists proposed that Alauna could be the chief town of the Unelli civitas since the 17th century, others have suggested that this role may belong to Crociatonum (Saint-Côme-du-Mont or Carentan) or Cosedia/Constancia (Coutances). However, researches on Alauna indicates that by its size and monumental structures, Alauna could claim the status. The population of the town is estimated to have reached 3,000 to 4,000 inhabitants.
A hypothesis emerges from recent studies that consider a significant political evolution over the centuries. During the Early Roman Empire, two territories with their head coexisted in the Cotentin: Alauna in the north, and Cosedia in the south. The Manche department was then divided into two territories by an east-west line. The administrative reorganization of the Roman provinces, initiated by Diocletian in the Later Roman Empire, resulted in the merger of the two territories, with Alauna losing its status in favor of Constancia, the sole chief town of a unified and extended Unelli territory that took the name Constantinus Pagus.
Toponym
The earliest references to the site are found in two ancient documents: the Peutinger Table, which dates from the 1st century and was likely completed by the 5th century, and the Antonine Itinerary, which was created in the late 3rd century. After a hiatus of several centuries, the names "Aleaume" in 1251 and "Alleaume" in 1258 appear, coexisting until the mid-18th century. From that point onward, only "Alleaume" is mentioned. The phonetic connection between Alauna and is challenging to ascertain; therefore, it may be more plausible to consider a written modification resulting from a transcription error. The evolution from Alauna to the toponym Valognes, which is frequently mentioned, is even more difficult to conceptualize.
The name Alauna, of Celtic origin, is the root of numerous place names in France (Alleaume, Allonne(s)...) and England (Aln, Alnwick, Alnmouth). Among the various hypotheses regarding the etymology of this toponym, three appear to be particularly favored, although none is definitively established: it could refer to a river, a height (either literally or symbolically), or a god.
During the Late Roman Empire, the civitas of the Unelli had Constancia (Coutances) as its chief town and became known as Constantinus Pagus, from which the name Cotentin was derived.
From ancient peak to medieval decline
Latène occupation The site exhibits evidence of diffuse occupation during the first half of the 1st century BCE (La Tène D). The area later occupied by the ancient city displays evidence of enclosures and parcels throughout. A large enclosure, open to the east by a monumental porch, is linked to an agricultural operation with a metallurgy workshop, located immediately west of the perimeter of the ancient city. This structure was active until the 1st century, when the city was built. It was later abandoned, but its layout influenced the ancient road passing through it and the urban grid of Alauna.
Foundation under Augustus and peak until the 3rd century The initial construction of the ancient city, which does not appear to be directly derived from the Latène occupation, is dated to the Augustan period. It primarily affected the northern and central parts of the site, a smaller area than the previous occupation. The principium (first forum) and the central sanctuary in its initial state are attributed to this period.
This was followed by a phase of territorial expansion and monumentalization in the second half of the 1st or early 2nd century, with the construction of large complexes such as baths, an entertainment building, and likely a new forum and remodeled sanctuary. The city reached its peak until the late 2nd or early 3rd century, during which the majority of the artifacts found date from this period and are spread over the largest area. It is likely that the road network was initially sketched out from Alaunas foundation, but was subsequently completed and adjusted according to the needs of the expansion phase, which involved the reclamation of the space that had been occupied during the Iron Age.
Decline under the Late Empire Alauna experienced a gradual process of abandonment from the mid-3rd century onwards, a scenario that was observed in the majority of cities in northern Gaul at the same time. While the underlying causes remain uncertain and may vary from one site to another, the main monuments of the city were progressively abandoned, and the artifacts found (ceramics, coins) became increasingly scarce. This suggests a shift in activity toward the center at the expense of the periphery. There is no evidence to suggest that the city was suddenly abandoned due to a fire caused by barbarian invasions, as is often assumed. A more plausible hypothesis is that the city declined gradually, potentially due to the loss of its status as a civitas capital. The growing economic influence of Coriallo (Cherbourg), with its maritime connection to Roman Britain, may have contributed to Alauna'''s loss of influence.
The history of Alauna during the Late Roman Empire and the early Middle Ages is archaeologically less documented than that of other sites in the region. However, it is possible that a type of occupation, whether permanent or temporary, involving material recovery activities in the ruins of the ancient city may have occurred.
Valognes New constructions are well attested in the 12th and 15th centuries in the Victory district to the south and near the baths to the north. These habitat remains, which were revealed by surveys, are reburied after study. In the modern era, the ancient site of Alauna was gradually converted to agricultural use especially for farm construction and parcel delineation. Valognes developed from the Middle Ages on the other side of the Merderet river, but a direct connection between Alauna and Valognes is difficult to establish based on researches. This urbanization did not threaten Alaunas remains until the early 21st century.
Rediscovery and detailed study of the site
17th and 18th centuries: Initial research
Although the station of Alauna is referenced in the Peutingeriana Table (1st-5th centuries) and the Antonine Itinerary (3rd century), its history was largely forgotten over time. Nicolas Sanson identified the site as in 1627, based on the known monuments (baths, theater, and "Wall of Victory") and its geographical location.