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ROUVIER-JEANLIN Micheline, JOLY Martine, NOTET Jean-Claude
Bourbon-Lancy (Saône-et-Loire)
Un atelier de figurines en terre cuite gallo-romaines (les fouilles du Breuil, 1985-1986)
In 1985-86, rescue excavations around the gallo-roman baths city of Aquae Bormonis brought to the surface exceptional ceramic material: hundreds of figurines, archetypes and casts, mostly original, prove the existence of a large workshop still to be precisely localized. This book is a synthetic study of these finds as well as of the structures and other types of material such as: common and glazed ceramic, terra sigillata, lamps (probably manufactured on the site); amphorae, coins, metallic and faunal material. Through the new chronological, typological and trading data exposed this volume is essential for people studying ceramic and any archaeologist working on the gallo‑roman period.
Abstract
Abstract
INTRODUCTION
1. HISTORY OF THE ANTIQUE SITE AND OF THE EXCAVATIONS (H. Louis)
Numerous pre and protohistorical finds were located during the last century in Bourbon-Lancy and its vicinity (paleolithic tools, neolithic-axes, megaliths, ceramics, funerary urns) and help to affirm the thesis of the neolithic corridor of the Loire river. A barrow and several coins, as well as the local toponymy, are evidence of a Celtic occupation.
Most of the buried structures and remains are galloroman ; they are the witnesses of the extent of the Roman urbanization, focused on baths, and of rapid assimilation of the Celtic gods (Borvo and Damona) (monumental sewers still in use, two temples on a nearby hill). Thanks to the 1892 excavations, Melin and Bertrand demonstrated that terracotta statuettes were cast in Bourbon. The coexistence of baths and roads justifies the expansion of a localcraft. The city seems to have been destroyed in the middle of the 4th century.
2. THE EXCAVATED STRUCTURES (M. Joly)
The site has not been entirely excavated, as it covers .several acres, but was divided in 4 main excavation areas. The human occupation dates back to the 1st and 2nd centuries. The remains show a residential area linked to a close by terracotta workshop.
APPENDIX : DENDROCHRONOLOGICAL ANALYSIS (G. Lamber, C. Lavier)
Sixteen pieces of wood were analysed by the dendrochronological method. Their intercorrelation produced an average curve covering 326 years, named Bourbon-Lancy Average 11 or Bourbon.-Lancy M11. The average cover is 5.3 rings per year. The datation was easily calculated by correlation on the master curves of Wurtemberg, Treier and Neuchâtel. The dates of felling years are riot as precise as expected: cambium was absent on ail the samples and sapwood was present only on two samples. The felling dates were estimated on the basis of the hypothesis that in general only the sapwood had been alterated. The curve sequence ends at 12 A.D. ; there is a high probability that the felling occurred between 5 - 35 A.D.
PART ONE : THE TERRACOTTA STATUETTES (M. Rouvier-Jeanlin)
A large number of gallo-roman terracotta figurines were found in Bourbon-Lancy with casts and archetypes (which is more unusual). The fact that 260 casts were found (some are identical) already spoke for local fabrication, but the 20 archetypes (used to make the casts) are the irrefutable evidence of such an activity, as well as the excavation of several identical statuettes and their cast, even if the workshop's structures have not been found yet.
The striking points are the stylistic homogeneity of the finds, the large size of several pieces, the few subjects figured, as well as the few signatures on the casts (PISO, SEXTVS, GEN, PRISC.).
Each chapter in this part includes, for each subject, a typology, a list of the casts and figurines found on the site and a typological commentary on each type (divinities, figures, animals).
Statuettes of Venus, feminine busts and birds are the most common subjects. Then come the dogs, the bulls and the horses, then the spinarii and sitting or standing figures. Divinities other than Venus appear in small numbers : Minerva (4), Epona (1), Mercury (1) ; the greatest surprise is the total absence of mother-goddess representation. Two types of shelters were made for Venus and Minerva.
Most of the Venus statuettes (14 new types) belong to the type 1(the drapery is on the wrist); but the main revelation is the representation of Venus wearing a corset (figurines and a fragment of cast).
Most of the feminine busts were large sized, with Flavian coiffure and a torque around the neck. The figures' casts were made of different pieces to vary the postures or to make gladiators, soldiers, servants, etc.
Birds, among which are several archetypes, are represented by peacocks, roosters, hens, eagles. The quadrupeds are mainly watchdogs (frowning and with bulging eyes) with a small bell, massive bulls or unsaddled horses, in pairs, sometimes yoked together. Wild animals (stags, does, lions) are figured on vases and a single reptile (lizard) was found.
The size of the statuettes, their stylistic particularities (eyes standing out with a curved line around and a central pupil), the choice of the subjects, all these elements plead for an early datation (beginning of the 1st century) for the start of the manufacture. This is confirmed by the datation of the surrounding finds, as well as by the fact that identical figurines were found in preflavian graves in Austria and Switzerland. This workshop was still manufacturing around 120/150.
There were relations between Bourbon-Lancy and Saint-Pourçain-sur-Besbre (Allier), but there is a stylistic similarity with Saint-Bonnet- Yzeure (Allier). The exportation seems to have occurred mainly towards North-Eastern Gaul.
Part one finishes by a glossary and a thematic index.
APPENDIX III : ANALYSIS OF CASTS (C. Lahanier, J.-M. Malfoy, M. Rouvier-Jeanlin)
The analysis of pieces from the musée des Antiquités nationales (Saint-Germain-en-Laye) through spectrometry, fluorescence X and neutronic activation helped to determine several manufacturing places, such as Bourbon-Lancy, and to confirm the hypothesis of Bourbon-Lancy being a terracotta workshop despite the absence of kilns.
SECOND PART : SECONDARY MATERIAL
1. INTRODUCTION
The second part deals with well dated finds (terra sigillata, glazed ceramic, lamps, amphorae, coins) that help to determine a precise chronology of the statuettes, and other finds for their documentary interest (metallic material, common ceramic, glass and bone items). ;
2. TERRA SIGILLATA (J.-C. Notet)
The numerous terra sigillata sherds found on the site are very important chronological markers for dating of the figurines, especially given the 40 identified marks. Most of them are from the first part of the 1st century.
The most frequent shapes are the Drag. 15/17, 24/25, 27, 36 and Ritt. 9 and 12 for smooth terra sigillata, and Drag. 29a, 29b, 30 and 37 for moulded sigillata.
Three chronological phases can be defined for the decorated sigillata: cylindrical or careened early vases (1st century, Southern Gaul) ; hemispherical vases with well defined decoration and bulge, sometimes with a decadent "rutène" style (end of the 1st century) ; Drag. 37 vases from central Gaul (2nd century).
The analysis of fragments of casts and Drag. 37 revealed the existence of an original group. Chemical and archaeological data plead for local productions. Therefore, there was a terra sigillata workshop in Bourbon-Lancy during the IInd century.
3. GLAZED CERAMIC (J.-C. Notet)
Some glazed ceramic sherds were found with early sigillata, as well as some other sherds typologically close, called "periplombifères" because of a lack of glaze (intentional or not). Despite the small size of the sherds, shape 93 seems to be the most frequent ; an ACO type beaker was also identified. The decorations could be local; a hairpin type decoration on a glazed thin surface is also to be noted.
Two items merit special attention : the first one is the bottom of a mould for a globular vase with a palmettes and rose decoration ; the second one is a mould for an applied omament showing a ram, which is a Celtic attribute of Mars or Cemunnos and perfectly iIIustrates the early datation of these ceramics found with the statuettes.
4. THE LAMPS (J.-C. Notet)
Bourbon-Lancy, as Vichy and Lezoux, is one of the few workshops in central Gaul to produce lamps in terracotta. 8 lamps, moulds or fragments were dug up on the site; among 5 lamps from the Ist century (ogival or ogivo-triangular lip with type Il relief scrolls) 3 are miniatures. The thickness of the relief (because of over moulding) and the poor quality of the manufacture show that these lamps are reject products.
A sixth lamp, with glaze, and 2 cast valves belong to the Firmalampen type. The hollow valve is dated by its context from the second part of the Ist century; made by over moulding, there is an unknown and probably local signature LlTOGENE at its bottom. All these elements show that lamps were made on the site as early as the Ist century.
5. THE AMPHORAE (J.-C. Notet)
Amphorae were throwaway containers, and when empty were used as dolia or, broken, to level the floors. Most of the amphorae found in Bourbon belong to the type Dressel 20, with round then retracted edge during the Ist and IInd century. Cylindrical handles, belonging to Dressel 20 imported from Spain to carry oil, show two signatures : SCALENSIA and BROCODU.
Vine amphorae from Gaul are also present on the site. Two 1st century fragments made in Gueugnon (shape Gueugnon 2) show the following signatures : SVNVCVS and ADBVCIVS.
6. THE COINS (J.-C. Notet, L. Popovitch)
44 coins were identified out of the 71 found, usually out of context, on the site and are listed in this chapter. The chronological distribution shows that half of them dated from the August reign (in two subdivisions : 29 B.C. to 0, and 0 to 14) ; this fact shows that Bourbon had a considerable economic activity at this time and that the occupation lasted until Hadrian.
The exceptional find is a dupondius, minted in Orange ; only 25 specimens of this coin were known until now. This study shows the intense activity of the city at the time when the figurines were produced.
7. THE METALLIC FINDS (J.-J. Bonnot, J.-C. Notet)
The metallic finds chronologically fit what is usually found on dwelling sites. Fragments of lead might have been used to glaze ceramics. Some items are not identifiable while some others, made of bronze, iron or lead, seem to have been ornamental, or utilitarian (nails, spoons, handles, keys). No tool reveals any specific craft.
16 fibulae were found ; 2 of them (spring covered) are precisely dated from the 1st part of the 1st century, the first one belongs to the NERTOMARUS type and the other one to the " peacock's tail " type. This material is a perfect marker for the figurines chronology.
8. COMMON CERAMICS (M. Joly)
The common ceramics found on the site are registered in a catalogue and form the first elements of a local typology for this type of material which had not been studied in this area until now.
9. ISOLATED FINDS (M. Joly, J.-C. Notet)
This chapter includes glass and bone items found on the site. The glass elements are the main fragments of a corded cup and the bottom of a square decorated bottle. The other finds are an awl, made from an antler, to work on hides, a decorated bone handle and a game counter.
APPENDIX : THE FAUNA (C. Beck)
The faunal analysis led to the following conclusions. Most of the remains come from domesticated species: sheep and goats, representing the highest rate, gave meat, wool and milk, then come pigs and oxen.
Gallinaceae were found in very small proportions (only du ring the 2nd part of the 1st century) as well as Equidae.
There are no wild species present on the site.
CONCLUSION (J.-C. Notet)
This work can be defined as an historical view of a city (Aquae Bormonis). The archaeological finds help imagine the everyday life and its evolution during the Ist and IInd century.
The main information is about gallo-roman ceramology : exceptional productions of casts and figurines, smaller ones of glazed ceramics, lamps and terra sigillata. Important chronological information may also be gained as archetypes, casts and figurines have been excavated for the first time in their context, close to a workshop. The question of Venus wearing a corset remains to be clarified.
Thanks to these new data Aquae Bormonis can be counted among the most important gallo-roman thermal cities and considered as a major center where figurines were made, especially if we keep in mind that the workshop itself still remains to be found and excavated.
