Verdes Archaeological Site

About

The archaeological site of Verdes is a collection of ancient remains located on the territory of the commune of Beauce la Romaine (Verdes until 2015) in the French department of Loir-et-Cher. Thermal baths and a large palace, a civil basilica and a forum or macellum constitute a monumental centre; Two small temples complete these arrangements, located near a crossroads of ancient ways and accompanied by many habitats grouped into organized areas. All these vestiges and clues give Verde the status of an ancient active secondary agglomeration from the 1st to the 3rd century.

However, due to the lack of recent and large-scale excavations, the characteristics and role of this ancient city remain unknown. Agriculture (production of cereals and sheep farming for wool) certainly has a great place in the economy of this Beauceronne city since ancient times. Apart from the ancient route from Chartres to Blois, known as "Jules Caesar's Way", which crosses Verdes from north to south, no trace of the ancient agglomeration is visible in elevation.

After partial excavations of the thermal baths in 1856-1857 and then in the 1960s-1970s, the latter...