Recent excavations near Gémenos by the French National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research have uncovered part of a Roman-era settlement across roughly 4,000 square metres, revealing a network of roads, buildings and areas linked to domestic activity.
Earlier studies in the area had already suggested the presence of a small settlement occupied between the 1st and 3rd centuries AD. The current excavation adds a clearer structure to that picture.
A north–south road runs through the site, marking a clear division in its use. To the east, the land was given over to cultivation, where archaeologists have identified traces of vineyards alongside a series of circular pits. These features have yielded Roman artefacts and medieval pottery, indicating that the area was reoccupied long after its initial phase.
Close to the southern approach, a set of rooms points to bathing activity. These spaces include a hypocaust system, where heat circulated beneath the floor, a furnace area, and a marble-lined basin. Parts of the structure remain intact, including brick supports for the heating system.
Fragments of painted wall plaster suggest that the rooms were decorated. The size of the complex does not match that of a typical private bath, nor that of a large public one. Instead, it may have served travellers arriving at the settlement rather than only permanent residents.
Beyond the bathing area, separated by a narrow passage, another group of rooms shows signs of metalworking. Hearths appear in several places, in addition to metal fragments made from iron and bronze.
Further west, additional spaces built with earth-based materials indicate more craft activity. Near the boundary between these working areas and the surrounding farmland, a smaller room contains a hearth or oven built from reused materials such as pottery fragments and bricks. This space was likely used for cooking.
Fieldwork is expected to continue into early April. Attention will then move to another part of the plot where earlier surveys identified agricultural remains. After excavation, the land will be handed back for development, while further study of the finds continues in specialist facilities.
Header Image Credit : Laurent Vallieres
Sources : Inrap
