Anderitum

About

Anderitum, mentioned in the form ad Gabalos towards the end of the third century then Javols in the following centuries, is a Gallo-Roman city located in the French department of Lozère, on the lands of the present municipality of Peyre en Aubrac. It is the capital of the Civitas des Gabales from the late 1st century BC to the 5th century AD about. Following a Latenian settlement probably quite diffuse and situated partly outside the site of the ancient city, Anderitum was probably founded, like many civitate capitals, during the reign of Augustus, during the last two decades of the first century BC.

In the second century, with its maximum expansion, the city covers about 40 hectares and has an estimated population of a few thousand. In addition to several houses, including three well-identified domuses, it includes an amphitheatre or more likely a theatre-amphitheatre, two thermal establishments and a civic centre with a forum, a curia and a basilica. The urban centre is organized in a network of orthogonal streets.

Its peak is short-lived and the city seems to be falling back the next century...