19 June 2025 The Future is the Product of the Past

One of Gaul’s Largest Roman Villas Discovered Near Auxerre, France, Spanning Over 4,000 m²

Archaeologists uncover a massive 4,000 m² Roman villa near Auxerre, revealing elite lifestyles in ancient Gaul.

A remarkable archaeological discovery just 3 kilometers south of Auxerre is shedding new light on the scale and luxury of Roman-era rural estates in ancient Gaul. In advance of infrastructure development on the city’s southern bypass, archaeologists have uncovered a vast Roman villa covering more than 4,000 square meters at a site known as Sainte-Nitasse, on the right bank of the Yonne River.

The villa, once thought to be a modest Roman outpost, has now been confirmed as one of the largest and most elaborate Gallo-Roman residences ever excavated in France. Initial clues to its existence date back to the 19th century, but systematic excavation only began in 1966 when gravel extraction operations exposed part of a rectangular building with ten rooms and decorative elements, including funerary steles and hypocaust systems.

However, that early discovery turns out to have been merely a secondary wing. Current excavations, led by a team under the direction of the French Ministry of Culture and the DREAL Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, reveal that the site includes an expansive central garden, porticoed galleries, private bath complexes, ornamental fountains, and evidence of sophisticated architecture—indicating that this villa was far more than a countryside retreat.

A Glimpse into Roman Luxury

At the heart of the villa lies a square garden enclosed by galleries, stretching over 450 square meters per side. To the north, a large basin likely served both ornamental and hydraulic purposes, while a smaller fountain at the southern end may have marked a point of ritual or aesthetic significance.

View of the north wing of the villa under excavation, seen from the northwest. Credit: Ch. Fouquin, Inrap
View of the north wing of the villa under excavation, seen from the northwest. Credit: Ch. Fouquin, Inrap

Adjoining these spaces are reception rooms, technical facilities, and a well-preserved bathhouse, complete with underfloor heating. These features confirm the site’s role not just as a farm estate (pars rustica) but as a luxurious home (pars urbana) belonging to a wealthy and likely aristocratic Roman family.

According to the excavation team, the architecture and spatial planning of the site parallel the urban development of Autessiodurum (modern-day Auxerre), which evolved from a minor settlement in the 1st century AD into a regional capital by the 4th century.

Public Access and Ongoing Research

In celebration of the European Archaeology Days (JEA), the excavation site will be open to the public on Sunday, June 15. Visitors can join guided tours led by the archaeologists themselves, with shuttles running every 15 minutes from the Arquebuse parking area. Entry is free and open to all.

While the full scope of the villa is still being revealed, researchers have already identified multiple phases of construction, suggesting the estate evolved significantly over time. Future analysis of ceramics, mosaics, and organic materials is expected to offer insights into the daily life of the villa’s ancient residents.

General view of the site from the north. Credit: Ch. Fouquin, Inrap
General view of the site from the north. Credit: Ch. Fouquin, Inrap

This exceptional discovery not only highlights the richness of Roman life in provincial Gaul but also raises new questions about economic power, land ownership, and cultural exchange in the late Roman Empire. As the dig continues, the Auxerre villa is poised to become a landmark case study in Roman archaeology.

INRAP

Cover Image Credit: Panoramic view of the Roman villa uncovered at Sainte-Nitasse. Credit: Ch. Fouquin, Inrap

Related Articles

World’s Oldest Place Name Signs

4 February 2021

4 February 2021

Throughout the history of the world, our interest and curiosity in ancient cultures and lives continue to increase day by...

Scenes of Warriors from 6th Century BC on a Slate Plaque Discovered at Tartessian Site in Spain

6 June 2024

6 June 2024

Archaeologists representing Spain’s National Research Council (CSIC) excavating at the archaeological site of Casas del Turunuelo have uncovered a slate...

‘Frankfurt Silver Inscription’ Archaeologists Unearth Oldest Christian Artifact North of the Alps

13 December 2024

13 December 2024

An ancient silver amulet unearthed in Frankfurt pushes back Christianity’s history in the region by 50 to 100 years. The...

Derinkuyu: A Subterranean Marvel of Ancient Engineering with 18 Levels and Capacity for 20,000 Inhabitants

2 May 2025

2 May 2025

Beneath the sun-drenched plains of Cappadocia, where otherworldly “fairy chimney” rock formations pierce the sky, lies a secret world carved...

An Erotic Frescoes Decorated ‘Tiny House’ Has Been Discovered in Pompeii

26 October 2024

26 October 2024

During investigations at the construction site of the Insula dei Casti Amanti along Via dell’Abbondanza in the central area of...

Rare discovery: Ancient Egyptian burial reveals Ovarian Teeth in Oldest Example of Teratoma

13 November 2023

13 November 2023

Archaeologists have unearthed the oldest documented example of a teratoma discovered within the 3,000-year-old burial chamber of a young woman...

The secret of the mummy in the Crystal coffin found in a garage in San Francisco

30 March 2023

30 March 2023

Mysterious mummies are a symbol of ancient lost times, which we often associate with Egypt and other ancient civilizations. Therefore,...

Danish museum says Vikings had stained glass Windows

15 October 2023

15 October 2023

New research shows that  Viking Age windows were created using stained glass in the 9th century, contrary to popular belief...

Archaeologists Discover 8600-year-old Bread at Çatalhöyük May be the Oldest Bread in the World

5 March 2024

5 March 2024

Archaeologists have discovered about 8,600-year-old bread at Çatalhöyük, a Neolithic settlement in central Turkey. Çatalhöyük is noteworthy because it is...

A Medieval ‘Vampire’ Grave Found in Croatia

1 February 2025

1 February 2025

Research at the Rašaška (or Račeša) site, located in the eastern part of Croatia, revealed a grave with an unusual...

Researchers may have uncovered the ruins of one of the largest ancient cafeterias for a Buddhist temple

9 February 2025

9 February 2025

Researchers have made a groundbreaking discovery at the site of the Yamashiro Kokubunji temple, revealing what is believed to be...

The first time in Anatolia, a legionnaires’ cemetery belonging to the Roman Empire unearthed

18 November 2022

18 November 2022

In the ancient city of Satala, in the Kelkit district of Gümüşhane in the Eastern Black Sea region of Turkey,...

3500-year-old menhir discovered in Mahbubabad, India

15 March 2022

15 March 2022

Six feet in height stone, also called a menhir, was found on the roadside of Ellarigudem, a hamlet of Beechrajupally...

Ancient gypsum furniture was discovered in a fire temple in the ancient region of Vigol in Iran

1 June 2021

1 June 2021

Sets of gypsum furniture, including a carved table and chairs, were discovered during an archaeological dig in central Iran. According...

3,000-year-old skeletons of nine children were discovered in Qazvin province, Iran

29 April 2023

29 April 2023

Archaeologists from the University of Tehran have discovered the remains of children dating back 3,000 years during excavations in an...

Comments
Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *