In Rennes, northwestern France, archaeologists have uncovered remnants of a vibrant ancient Roman city beneath a 19th-century hospital. This significant discovery, initiated in 2022, is now revealing detailed insights into the city’s structure and the daily lives of its inhabitants.
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During a recent archaeological excavation in the old Hôtel-Dieu neighborhood of Rennes in
northwestern France, archaeologists discovered the remains of a once-bustling ancient Roman city.
The excavations under the 19th-century hospital began in 2022, according to a June 18 news
release from the French National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research.
Two years later, archaeologists are revealing the city's appearance and how Roman daily life
has been preserved under the earth. The Hôtel-Dieu neighborhood has seen tremendous upheaval and
development since the city's founding. Following significant excavation and embankment work,
the first roads were constructed in the 1st century. The neighborhood's interior was
gradually filled with structures supporting both residential and commercial activity,
constructed with low foundations and wooden posts. The use of masonry was first demonstrated
at the end of the 1st century with the building of a sizable sanctuary with a courtyard for the
reception of the faithful. This sanctuary replaced a previous wooden structure that
was constructed similarly. Stone-built homes, shops, and warehouses started to spring up,
and the original roads were rebuilt, completely reintegrating the neighborhood into the thriving
city. The sanctuary, which dates to the 3rd century AD, was discovered during the excavation
of the Area Sacra, the north wall surrounding its courtyard. At least one temple is located
within the northern portion of this wall, which is more than 100 meters long. To the south,
a portion of an east-west street is integrated into the religious complex. Given its size and
exclusivity within Rennes, it is possible that the sanctuary was once the civic sanctuary of
the Reduns, a group of Gallic people whose capital was the ancient Condate, which is now Rennes.
These people are only known from inscriptions that were repurposed and found buried beneath
the city wall. During the 3rd century, the city also had a district with large private residences,
according to the release. One had a large reception room where the owner could have
received clients or guests, and it even had a heated floor. An airspace was placed under the
floor with columns, and then warm air would be pumped into the underground space, heating the
above, researchers said. The end of the 3rd century brought the decline of the neighborhood.
The public sanctuary was dismantled, and the stones from the enclosing wall were recovered,
possibly during the construction of the Castrum around 270-280. To the northwest of the excavation,
a domus was completely dismantled to open a quarry for extracting alluvial sands.
Despite this, some residences continued to be occupied in the 4th century,
leaving their mark on the landscape through the furniture discovered.
A funerary space was established in the ruins at the end of the 3rd or the start of the 4th century.
It was in use until the 8th century and housed more than 600 tombs.
