Station de potiers gallo-romains de La Villeneuve-au-Châtelot

About

The Gallo-Roman potters station of La Villeneuve-au-Châtelot is an archaeological site located in La Villeneuve-au-Châtelot in the Aube department of France.

Location: The site is located in the commune of La Villeneuve-au-Châtelot, in the department of Aube in Champagne-Ardenne (region Grand Est). With 18 open ovens, La Villeneuve-au-Châtelot is in 2003 the largest Gallo-Roman potter shop discovered in the south-west of Champagne. The site is only a few kilometres from the Côte d'Île-de-France and its clay quarries. It occupies about one hectare on both sides of a Roman road that crosses the nearby Seine. This preferred situation in terms of supply (clay, wood, water) and routes of communication (road, river) probably explains the size of the site.

History: Explored from 1936 to 1984 with interruptions, the site is classified as historical monuments as early as 1937.

Description: In addition to the 18 known furnaces, La Villeneuve-au-Châtelot has many remains of potter work, including drainage ditches, a clay settling pit, possible drying areas, locations...