dAf 87
BOUIRON Marc (éd.)
Marseille, du Lacydon au faubourg Sainte-Catherine (Ve s. av. J-C-XVIIIe s.)
Les fouilles de la place du Général-de-Gaulle
Recent archaeological operations have greatly increased our knowledge of the original Marseilles town centre and of neighbourhoods gradually incorporated into the city. The excavations presented here, carried out in 1992-1993 close to the Vieux-Port and Canebière districts, have revealed abundant, hitherto unknown information relating to shoreline occupation layers (dating from the 4th century BC to the setting up of salt-works in the early Middle Ages) as well as to developments on the town's periphery beyond the Plan Fourmiguier fortifications. In a previously rural area the suburb of Sainte-Catherine began to take shape, composed of several city blocks developed in conjunction with such construction projects as the Saint-Sépulcre hospital. The area was completely demolished in 1360. In the 18th century new construction began in the suburb, which had become an integral part of the town in 1670. The new buildings were tom down at the beginning of the 19th century in order to make way for the Place du Général de Gaulle, a major structural feature in the modern town of Marseilles.
Abstract
Abstract
Introduction
Archaeological excavations undertaken on the Place du Général-de-Gaulle prior to the construction of an underground car-park covered an area of 2,400 square meters in the heart of Marseilles. This area, untouched in recent years, brought forth important vestiges from both the medieval and modern periods, found above occupation layers dating from Antiquity.
1 Transformation of the coastal fringe between the Bronze Age and the early Middle Ages
At the end of the prehistoric period, the site corresponded to a marshy zone reclaimed for use by the Greeks only two centuries after the founding of the Phoenecian city. Dumping of soil and branches together with nearly 200 amphorae represents work similar to that found on the Jardin des Vestiges site to the north of the fresh-water basin. This construction work was undoubtedly undertaken in connection with creating a harbour-side road in the Vieux Port area. A hiatus separates these strata from remains of Roman occupation, during which period a large platform was set up at the far end of the port, most probably to serve as a loading and unloading area. Intersected by a narrow north-south drain, the platform is bordered on the north by a canal, which may have been used to bring small cargo ships to shore. This area was not abandoned until the end of the Roman period (as attested by the presence of a reused late Roman boat fragment), almost certainly due to a rise in the water level. During the 5th and 6th centuries, the shoreline would change again with the appearance of a beach. At the end of the 6th century, the entire area was razed, probably so that salt-works could be set up. The existing archaeological layers correspond to the base of the salt-beds. The centuries which immediately follow have left no archaeological remains.
2 Gradual urbanisation
A significant change took place at the end of the 12th century : a large road, equipped with drainage ditches and bordered by an artificial brook was cut through the abandoned salt-works. This was the prelude to the creation of one of medieval Marseille’s suburbs. Several buildings were constructed along this major thoroughfare which linked the city to its southern territory. To the south-west, the Saint-Sépulcre Hospital began to develop, at the beginning of the 13th century, around a large central building to which others were added several decades later, thus occupying the whole of a small triangular plot. To the east of the road, a vast area was gradually parcelled off and a tannery was established towards the middle of the 13th century.
3 The Saint Catherine suburb in the first half of the 14th century
By the end of the 13th century, all the vacant lots had been filled with houses, including the area formerly occupied by the now defunct hospital. At this point a defensive wall was constructed along the Plan Fourmiguier (an area located between the road and the sea) and a deep ditch dug to go with it. The basic layout of the suburb would not change until it disappeared altogether in approximately 1360 : in the face of threats from military companies demobilised during the Hundred Years War, all houses in the suburb were demolished and building materials reused.
4 From the destruction of the medieval suburb to the modern square
Renewed sieges against the city in the course of the 16th century (1524, 1536 and 1591) brought about new changes in the suburban area. The main thoroughfare lost its importance when the city gate was closed off, while fortifications were periodically restored, particularly by dredging the defensive ditches. New houses would not be built in the area until the second quarter of the 17th century. This process accelerated and reached its final stage with the enlargements ordered by Louis XIV. Beginning at this time (1670/1680) this quarter was annexed by the city, although ongoing work on the Place Royale prevented any large-scale changes. These projects were abandoned in the mid 18th century, after which the old medieval road was realigned and a new group of houses built. These structures were torn down in the early 20th century to construct the present-day Place du Général-de-Gaulle.
5 Pottery from the end of the 12th century to the end of the 14th century : a suggested typo-chronology
Medieval pottery from the site should be studied with reference to its Provençal archaeological context. The low number of sherds (7,186, of which 2,792 are residual) does not allow us to plot detailed graphs of different production phases. The quality and diversity of the pottery, however, furnish convincing evidence of pottery consumption in a major Mediterranean port in contact with Spain, Italy, North Africa and the Orient. It is now possible to examine the use of pottery produced in the Sainte Barbe quarter, the subject of another recent study.
6 Modern pottery
Modern pottery found on the site (8,832 fragments) lends itself better to a chronological analysis of wares. A period of intense activity appears in the third quarter of the 17th century, and more particularly in the period 1720-1790, which corresponds to other transformations concretely illustrated by the archaeological evidence. A closer examination of wares reveals that, beginning in the 18th century, pottery was imported from the whole of the Mediterranean Basin and even beyond.
7 Non-ceramic finds
Amongst the metal objects recovered, a set of lead slingshots, found in the upper level of the Roman port area and in a late Roman building, may have been used during the sieges on the city at the end of the Roman period. The few coins found correspond, proportionately, to the different periods attested for the site. The remaining finds (1,770 fragments) consist of construction materials (nails, rods) as well as objects from daily life (thimbles, spindle whorls). The 18th century wooden balls are especially noteworthy, in connection with the nearby Petit Jeu de Mail. Taken as a whole, the finds afford a glimpse of everyday life in the suburb.
8 Texts from the archives
Study of archival material, initially with reference to the city’s fortifications and subsequently concerning changes to the land outside the city walls, has considerably enhanced our understanding of the site. Two elements have proved significant in illuminating the suburb’s history : first, the identification of the late 12th century Saint Sépulcre Hospital, which had disappeared by 1280; and second, the discovery of a text from 1301 mentioning the possessions of a Marseille nobleman, Philippe Anselme, to the south of the city in the Saint Catherine suburb. Researchers were thus able to establish a connection between the archaeological remains and these texts. For the modern period, the archives have allowed scholars to understand spatial reorganisation in the decades following Louis XIV’s annexations.
9 Geomorphology, fauna and paleo-environment
A geo-morphological study of changes in the sea level over the centuries was carried out using comparative data from excavations on the north shore of the Vieux Port. Fauna and shell material were analysed to determine characteristics of eating habits from medieval times to the present day. In addition, a study of insects from the area allowed researchers to explore the paleo-environmental context and provide evidence for intensive human occupation.
10 Conclusion
The present study brings to life an important area of Marseille, situated to the south of the city in close proximity to the port. Changes in the area echo the growth of Marseille, following the rhythm of economic activity in the port.
