The resumption of the archaeological excavations at Vendeuil-Caply since 2008 has significantly supplemented our view of this secondary urban centre of the Gallo-Roman period and provided a more detailed view of its organization, based on the results of the latest magnetic surveys. Up until then, four main archaeological units had been identified by air photography during the 20th century, and excavated: a fanum, two theatres, and, partially, a Roman camp. Since then, two large sanctuaries and the forum have been spotted, as well as a vast esplanade bordered by a monumental portico. The recent excavations (2013-2016), immediately to the East of the esplanade, revealed the existence of another shrine established towards the middle of the 2nd century and destroyed around 175/180 A.D. Its surrounding walls and its gallery were partly preserved under a thick burnt level in which were preserved a lot of building remains (wicker, beam, pieces of burnt cob…) and of artefacts. This shrine is located in close proximity to a street, in the gutter of which the 2013 excavations discovered some 300 fragments of clay figurines, most of them showing traces of paint.

Traduction : Margaret & Jean-louis CADOUX