Treasures in Argentomagus archaeological museum

The museum

The museum was created in 1990, on a hill, on the location of the Gallo-Roman city of Argentomagus: from Latin argentum (″silver″) and magus (″market″).

Silver market, a nice name, for a prosperous city!

They found here plenty of remains (houses, theatre, bathes) and archaeological pieces.

Treasures

The wine set

Discovered in July 2013, this wine set made of copper is really gorgeous!

It dates back to the 3th century.

We have a plate decorated with a griffin, saucepans, a bucket, a jug and a dish. A nice discovery!

The domestic altar

The climax of the visit is in the vast and nice crypt.

Here, in August 1986, they dug an amazing domestic altar, unique in France!… err, sorry, in Gaul!

Dedicated to the Fertility, we can see on it a phallus: on the left, the Gaulish god Cernunnos (the Earth) and on the right, god of Prosperity.

Childrens’ graves

In middle of a vast Gallo-Roman cemetery, we can see children’s skeleton, about 1 or 2 years old, and even a stillborn baby.

They were buried with their toys made of clay, including a nice little white horse… pretty touching, isn’t it?

The monumental fountain

Raised at the end of the 1st century, 22 metres long and 13 metres wide, it really deserves its name!

The pond in the middle is about 20 square metres. A wooden pipe located in the vaulted gallery brought water to the pond.

People abandoned the fountain in the 4th century, but a question remains: what’s that huge fountain for?

Prayers? Ritual ablution? Water supply?