New antique discoveries in Trinquetaille, Arles-en-Provence

In 2015, the French newspaper Le Monde published an article entitled 'Pompei-like frescoes found in Arles'.

Article du Monde [French]

The city of Arles became famous at the time of the Roman conquest of the Gaul. Arelate became their first capital before Nîmes [Nemausis] and later Lyon [Lugdunum]. Its fame continued in the Middle Ages as it became an important Christian center. In 1981, UNESCO added the city to its World Heritage sites.

Arles, Roman & Romanesque Monuments

The antique city lies on the left bank of the Rhône River. But in the late 20th century, archaeologists started to make new discoveries across the river, on the right bank of town known as Trinquetaille. 

As a matter of fact, this is the place I called home whenever I come back to France and the newer archaeological excavations are literally a few steps away from my own place. For the past few months, I had wanted to know more about these discoveries. Usually, they offer a guided visit there once a week, but until recently I had not been able to find an appropriate time to get there. Last June, the opportunity finally came. So, I asked my Mum and my sister to join the planned visit despite the late spring heat. It was a fascinating tour explained in full detail by the lead archaeologist himself.

Trinquetaille in Roman times

2014-Discovery of a thought to be bedroom  (Ist c.B.C.)

2015-Rare motif artefacts

2015-Discovery of a reception hall from the mid-Ist c. B.C.

Musée Départemental Arles Antique

If Arles acquired its present celebrity in the Roman period, it was already inhabited by the Ligures and later the Celts and also the Greeks. Circa 600 B.C., Massalia [Marseilles] was founded by Greek settlers from Phocaea [modern Foça, Turkey]. At the time, the Greeks used the Rhône River to establish the inland trade.

Arles grecque et romaine

One of the most interesting facts of the Trinquetaille dig out, is that the archaeologists found several layers of settlements, some dating before the Roman settlement!  However, in order to protect the copyrights of the searching team, we were asked to wait till an official statement will be made in the next few months.

So, this is a story that will continue later on.