Roman Villa
Excavations in 2006, in "La Tuillière", Villelaure
The Roman agricultural domain covered about 5000 m2 ( 54 000 ft3)
The residential section is caracterized by the quality of its floors and walls ( mosaics, paintings). It has also 2 basins ( one 70 feet long) with a fountain.
Nearby an underground aquaduct, canalisations, cemetery, a ceramics kiln and a road.
(Institute of Archeology -INRAP- : Robert Gaday)
The residential section is caracterized by the quality of its floors and walls ( mosaics, paintings). It has also 2 basins ( one 70 feet long) with a fountain.
Nearby an underground aquaduct, canalisations, cemetery, a ceramics kiln and a road.
(Institute of Archeology -INRAP- : Robert Gaday)
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An Gallo-roman Eden
The rooms with mosaics indicate the period of Hadrian. It is located near a torrent, the Marderic, coming from the mountains nearby. Around the villa, were found traces of habitat for laborers working on the farm. It is surprising that no more mosaics were discoverd for the villa was huge. The villa Urbana and the proetorium were in the center ; The proeterium was a complex building surrounded by ramparts and towers. Beside the main villa, houses for farmers, shops, barns were built and surrounded by gardens, terraces, medows, parks and fields. In the center a " curtis " courtyard bordered by stables, barns, cellar, kitchen, kiln, mill and oil press. (Jean Claude Rey : History of Villelaure - 1979) A rare discovery The mosaics were on the right hand side of the torrent, about 80 feet away. The soil recovering the vestiges was about 60 inches thick which allowed ploughing. The length of the villa was 70 feet long, 18 feet wide ; The central hall was 7 feet wide. The walls were 2 feet thick and made of bricks covered with marble. A lead pipe ( 18 feet long) was inserted in the brick wall and across the marble. (Roman Mosaics of Villelaure : L.H.Labande, Museum of Avignon -1900) |
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