Little Pompeii found near Lyon

[Angela]

See:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2...ologists-uncover-little-pompeii-south-of-lyon

"[FONT=&quot]A “little Pompeii” is how French archaeologists are describing an entire ancient Roman neighbourhood uncovered on the outskirts of the southeastern city of Vienne, featuring remarkably preserved remains of luxury homes and public buildings.[/FONT][FONT=&quot]“We’re unbelievably lucky. This is undoubtedly the most exceptional excavation of a Roman site in 40 or 50 years,” said Benjamin Clement, the archaeologist leading the dig on the banks of the Rhone river, about 18 miles (30km) south of Lyon."

"The neighbourhood, which contains homes dating to the 1st century AD, is believed to have been inhabited for around 300 years before being abandoned after a series of fires."

"Among the structures to have partly survived are an imposing home dubbed the Bacchanalian House after a tiled floor depicting a procession of maenads (female followers of the god of wine, known as Dionysus or Bacchus) and joyful half-man, half-goat creatures known as satyrs. A blaze consumed the first floor, roof and balcony of the sumptuous home, which boasted balustrades, marble tiling, expansive gardens and a water supply system, but parts of the collapsed structure survived.The archaeologists believe the house belonged to a wealthy merchant.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]“We will be able to restore this house from the floor to the ceiling,” Clement said.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]In another house, an exquisite mosaic depicts a bare-bottomed Thalia, muse and patron of comedy, being kidnapped by a lustful Pan, god of the satyrs."

Nice to be upper class, then as now. Six hundred years later this whole life style was gone, for everyone, even the very rich. [/FONT]

 

[Coriolan]

French 'Pompeii' unearthed in the Rhone Valley

Archeologists uncover little Pompeii south of Lyon


"A “little Pompeii” is how French archaeologists are describing an entire ancient Roman neighbourhood uncovered on the outskirts of the southeastern city of Vienne, featuring remarkably preserved remains of luxury homes and public buildings.

“We’re unbelievably lucky. This is undoubtedly the most exceptional excavation of a Roman site in 40 or 50 years,” said Benjamin Clement, the archaeologist leading the dig on the banks of the Rhone river, about 18 miles (30km) south of Lyon.

Ancient statue unearthed at Cambodia's Angkor temple complex

The city of Vienne – famous for its Roman theatre and temple – was an important hub on the route connecting northern Gaul with the Roman province of Gallia Narbonensis in southern France.

The site unearthed on land awaiting construction of a housing complex covers an area of nearly 7,000 square metres (75,000 sq ft) – an unusually large discovery in an urban area that has been labelled an “exceptional find” by the French culture ministry. "



The Rhone Valley was one of the regions most heavily settled by the Romans outside Italy. It includes colonies like Arles, Orange, Vienne, Die and Lyon.

 

[New Englander]

Maybe they can provide DNA samples, dont know why we cant use the ones from Pompeii.