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The 'archaeological site of Alba-la-Romaine', corresponding to the city Gallo-Roman d Alba Augusta Helviorum or Alba Helviorum is located near the present town of Alba-la-Romaine, in the department of  Ardèche in the region Rhône-Alpes. Alba was under the Roman Empire the capital of Helviens whose territory covered the area of low Vivarais. A museum will soon be opened.

History
It has been assumed that the city of Alba had at the beginning of the Roman Empire, the estate as often Gaul, city earlier. The existence of a oppidum proto on the board Chaulène, northwest of Alba, is indeed likely. The hypothesis of a lowland habitat can be simultaneously used, the excavations west of the site ("Saint-Pierre") comes with lithic debris from the end of the third millennium. At the site of two "domus" south-east of the site ("home field Delauzun"), a habitat La Tène III (first century) also was revealed by the discovery of imported ceramics, Campanian type A, including debris were also collected "Saint-Pierre", as well as collars, handles or lips of wine amphoras Italy and Allobrogian currency, issued before the third quarter of the first century.  Other oppida are known in the territory of Helviens such as Jastres North.

When Bituitos Chief Arverni people located beyond Cévennes, was defeated in 121 BC. AD by the Roman consul Fabius Maximus, Alba was already the capital of Helviens whose territory corresponds approximately to the south of the current department of Ardèche. Their neighbors to the north were the Ségusiaves west of Vellaves and Gabales south of Volques Arécomiques. Fabius Maximus manages to dissociate the Helviens Allobroges and Arverni and draw them into the alliance with Rome. They obtained the titles of allies and friends of the Roman people and Julius Caesar observed upon his arrival in Gaul they were independent, had their own customs and administration. In 83 BC. BC chief helvien Cabur obtained under the name of Caius Valerius Caburus the Roman citizenship and his son Caius Valerius Procillus became a friend of Caesar. Caesar wrote that he "believed more convenient to depute to Ariovistus C. Procillus Valerius, a young man full of courage and merit, whose father, C. Caburus Valerius, a Roman citizen had been done by C. Valerius Flaccus. His loyalty was known and he knew the Gallic language, a long habit had made familiar to Ariovistus and the Germans had no reason for the abuse. "(I, 1.47 Bello Gallicum). The pro-Roman Caesar Helviens allowed to install its forces near Arverni. After his victory Helvie and its capital Alba experiencing a significant economic development.

Subsequently Alba receives the privilege of Roman law, which allows him to get some benefits. Attached first to the Aquitaine at time Strabo, it seems to be integrated into the Narbonnaise. "The starting point of Roman roads to Valencia, Lyon and Vienna by the bank of the Rhone, on the other hand to Bourg-Saint-Andéol and Narbonne, finally to Gergovie - excluding roads -; center an agricultural region and especially viticulture center of regional trade, Gaul, and even imperial (...), Alba is from the first century a major city, "says Marcel Le Glay not equal the splendor of Arles, Orange, Nimes or  Vienna. Probably should liaise with its growth is reported by Pliny the Elder which was discovered by Alba and adopted in the region, a vine whose flowering happening in one day. Until its peak in the second century, it develops on two poles south on the terraces of the Escoutay and theater, north in the district of "Bagnols" near the path that leads to the valley of Rhone in Central Massif.

The time of the Christianization of the city, the first episcopal see of the region is uncertain, ranging from the end of the first century or that of the second century. After its decline, probably at the end of the third century, the city lost in the middle of the fourth century in favor of Viviers its episcopal function. The ancient site deserted, agglomeration is a new form in the Middle Ages to the present location of the village.

Against the wall of the Jewish cemetery in the northern district of Bonn / Germany is a relief of the gravestone of the first known inhabitants of Bonn namely, a Roman legionnaire came in 35 AD Alba Helviorium (now Alba-la-Romaine). The tombstone inscription, translated from Latin means: "Here lies Publius Clodius, son of Plubius, the region Voltinia born in Alba, the first legion soldier, aged 48, died after 25 years of service."

The ancient city, without enclosure, covers 30 hectares, bounded by the necropolis of Saint-Martin (first to second century AD) southeast and Saint-Pierre (second to fourth centuries AD) to the west. Its perimeter is estimated at four kilometers. The evaluation of the population remains extremely difficult.

North Ward ("The Bagnols")
The area that is now called Bagnols is where were found the first traces of settlement on the plain of Alba. The ancient city is part of the area and then spread to the place called the Palace of around monumental center. North of the ancient city, as the city grows, are a Gallo-Roman importantly, a popular housing and probably a business. In the first century AD, his shrine grows and welcomes the imperial cult, emphasizing allegiance Helviens to the Emperor and their complete integration the Roman Empire. In 1992, a statue of a deified emperor is found. The area is connected to the center by a monumental processional route along the monumental center then to the east. However, from the third century traces of abandonment and reuse of stones of the sanctuary are true, an early sign of decadence.

Cardo and decumanus
The Roman was founded outside of the current city to the north, on the other side of the Escoutay, from two perpendicular axes, the cardo (north-south) and decumanus (east-west), which form the basic grid of the Roman town planning. Today reached 150 meters, the cardo is composed of blocks of hard limestone ("marble Chomérac", of a thickness of about 28 cm, on which appear the traces of cart wheels. The floor, with a width of 5 meters, not including edges, covers a network of water and sewer.

The forum led to the cardo ("district Palace") and along the west side bordered by a portico with a width of 4.60 meters. Twenty shops topped with a sunken floor are aligned, four stairs leading to the upper esplanade. Five of them have delivered equipment from several eras separated by layers corresponding to two fires, the first of which is likely to take place later in the middle of the second century. We had to sell in the shops of earthenware dishes (cups, votive lamps with molded decoration) and glass.

monumental forum ("Palace")
A first building, dating from the second century, located at the top of the monumental center along the cardo maximus. Its function may be related, in the context of economic and religious life of the city, with corporations. An inscription, probably first century, found on a sarcophagus (reused later) in the Saint-Pierre enumerates four drapers (centonarii), construction workers (manufacturer ), Utricularia (utriclarii) and suppliers of wooden constructions (dendrophori) all of which seem related to the wine trade. These corporations reflect on this listing their economic and political power in the city, and public building should be beautifully decorated may be assigned. The building consists of four wings around a central garden with a pond. Originally three wings in porch opened into the garden, the game is being closed by a simple wall that was converted 30 or 40 years later in the final wing gantry.

The forum rests today in the vineyard. It has been identified through surveys during excavations.

In the north, a building serving the public, consisting of four wings gantry is built around a garden with two ponds. The gate opens on Exedra s semi-circular or rectangular. Its function is as the building north of downtown monumental obscure.

In the south, the sacred space consists of two buildings built gantry in a row. The south portico, which appeared neat decor (marble veneers, soft limestone columns, floor mosaic with geometric decoration) is a covered porch that opens onto a courtyard. A temple with vestibule ( pronaos) and large room ( cella), is at the center of the court. The north portico surrounding a courtyard and building extended by an axial apse, which was able to receive the municipal administration ( Curie). South of the temple invisible today, Basilica, both court and place of trade, was discovered.

Hydraulic structures underground === === A complex network of pipes was discovered in 1966, 40 meters south of the paved road, where the road crosses the creek 102 Théoule or the Palace. The mainline from the creek bed runs first south and then turns at a right angle to the west. Its width is 60 cm, height 70 cm initially and then rapidly exceeds 2 meters. The construction is of outstanding quality, neat little device for walls, masonry barrel vault with field stones placed.

Small holes are drilled in the left wall to allow water infiltration. On the right wall are arranged small secondary channels ensuring their evacuation. The first part of the main pipe is cut at a lower level than another gallery whose roof is formed of architectural elements for reuse, fragments of columns and slabs. On one of them, also reuse, the inscription of the dedication of a water supply by the individual responsible for its construction.

The set can be used "to recover the flood waters of the stream and return them by irrigation, to enhance groundwater and ensure food more abundant and regular sinks".

The theater
Southeast, the theater is crossed by a stream. Partially excavated between 1932 and 1935, it is now clear. Excavations have revealed that its development was done in three successive. The oldest theater, lightweight (bleachers earth and wooden boards), only occupies the right bank of the creek that found later channeled. It dates from the end of the first century. The first reconstruction was effected at the earliest in 30-45 AD, a second at the beginning of the second century. Theater develops on both sides of the creek, the cavea and orchestra occupying the right bank of the scenic space spanning the stream, the stage wall and gate located on the left bank. This last condition has returned restoration.

On the right bank of the creek, four walls and semi-circular concentric bore the steps of the cavea seats reserved for spectators, only one remains. Could be accessed from the outside by vaulted passages (vomitoria). The orchestra which took place on seats of honor three rows of privileged spectators remain several large slabs semicircle. A long oblique wall, south of the theater, must have belonged to an important building. The scene was laid in the passage of the stream. On its left bank stood the stage wall and rear, an enclosed courtyard.

Theater, with a diameter of 68 meters, can hold about 3,000 spectators.

The private baths ("Clipboard")
These spa, excavated in 1965 and 1966, consist, south-west of the ancient city and the modern village entrance, a set of five rooms aligned from north to south. Room 1 was to be the cloakroom (apodyterium). At the same level, room 2, with the basin plan is a trefoil coated marble slabs and west a small tub, was probably a cold room (frigidarium). The last three rooms (caldarium and tepidarium) show the presence of the square piers (hypocaust s) carrying the soil, between which the hot air circulated.

To the west of these rooms another room, rectangular, down three steps should be based on room service. Northeast basin trefoil, another basin, and isolated construction coarser, seems to have been used as a reservoir.

Depending on the size of the rooms, it would be rather than private baths public baths. The coins found in the balneum dating from the end of the third century and first half of the fourth century, the balneum have been built in the course of the second or third century and destroyed the mid-fourth century.

"The basalts"
The site and its sanctuary are less than a hundred meters north of the baths. It seems to be composed of buildings for agricultural or crafts and more modest dwellings.

The villas("Delauzun Townhouses field" or "The Pinard")
Luxurious dwellings were discovered accidentally in 1967 in the south-east of the city near the river Escoutay, south of the highway 102, in a field belonging to Mr. Delauzun. It is on this site What was found among various objects (lamp oil, coins, animal bones) remains the oldest fragments of amphorae and ceramics imported from Italy (Campania ceramic).

Two large houses are separated by a steep street east-west, lined gutters covered with limestone slabs.

The first house (House or home south) consists of a peristyle and a garden with a pond rectangular apse and a well with a depth of 10.50 meters and thirteen pieces which were perforated nine mosaics. The triclinium (dining room), located in the center of the peristyle in the axis of the basin, is preceded by a corridor where the floor is mosaic. All these mosaics, datable on stylistic criteria as the first half of the second century AD consist of a geometric black and white, sometimes decorated with a polychrome discrete. A small room still partially provided with its hypocaust heating device was also spotted. A portico remains several bases of pillars, skirted the house across the street.

The second house (house or home North II), which does not comply with the alignment of the street, has delivered later mosaics dating from the end of the second or early third century (period of Severe. On one of them, covering a doorway, and are fish.

Saint-Pierre
Site investigations undertaken by F. Delarbre in 1945, were continued from 1964 to 1976 under the successive directions of MM. Le Glay, and Tourrenc Lauxerois. Fragments of marble, frescoes and pottery sherds dating from the first century were found in its deeper layers, remains of early constructions. According to the hypotheses suggested by the discoveries made in 1966 three monuments would then superimposed from Antiquity to the Middle Ages.

The first monument, probably quite important, dates according to a fragment of an inscription at the end of the second or early third century (reign of Severus ). It remains a pavement lined gutter, three parallel walls defining a portico with a width of 3.50 meters, overlooking a room with a depth of 5.90 meters and a pool (10.75 x 7 x 1.56 m).

Another building is the south, a slightly higher level. Of modest size (16 x 9.5 meters) square plan continues in its east-west axis by a room overflowing elevated (5 meters wide). The monument appears to be a martyrium, then converted into a church divided into three naves. This church is on the north side preceded by a corridor paved with 2.50 meters wide. Beyond the threshold, a paved courtyard (4.50 x 3.50 meters) leads to a baptistery.

North a larger church, oriented east-west, and consists of several aisles paved was probably later, the Cathedral of Alba. Three levels of tombs have been identified: under the pavement of tombs, Roman tradition, in the form of tiles assembled roof sarcophagi characteristics of the time Merovingian and not on the pavement of the other tombs Middle Ages.

Further north a priory moved to the twelfth century. The chapel of 20.50 meters by 4 meters, consisting of a narthex, a nave and chancel, has been subsequently many changes to its partial destruction (sixteenth century) and its abandonment in the seventeenth century.

St. Martin, "La Plaine"
A St. Martin villa suburban indicates a transition from the city to the countryside. A Gallo-Roman cemetery was found just south of the highway 102, the site of the medieval church and cemetery.

On the outskirts of the city, in the north-east, it seems that other villae, farms and houses (garden, porch, pond, mosaics and frescoes) are in the neighborhood " Plain. "

Other articles

 * Borne milliaire de Mélas
 * Jastres-Nord
 * Oppidum de Jastres-Nord
 * Oppidum de Jastres-Sud
 * Liste des monuments historiques de l'Ardèche