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The Ancient Roman City Of Ucetia Has Been Found

The Ancient Roman City Of Ucetia Has Been Found - Denis Gliksman INRAP

In an astonishing discovery in the south of France, archaeologists have found the lost ancient Roman city of Ucetia.

The site where researchers found the ancient Roman city of Ucetia - Denis Gliksman INRAP

The site where researchers found the ancient Roman city of Ucetia – Denis Gliksman/INRAP

The Roman city of Ucetia has been lost for over a thousand years, but have now been found, along with some very well-preserved mosaics and architecture.

During the construction of a school near modern-day Uzès in the south of France, the French National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research (INRAP) artifacts and parts of buildings dating back to the era of the Roman Republic, between 1st century BCE and 7th century, over 4,000-square-meter site.

The first clue to suggest that the town found was Ucetia was hinted at when they found an inscription of the town’s name on a stone slab in the nearby Nîmes. While a fre isolated fragments and pieces of mosaic had previously suggested that the site was on top of the Roman city, it wasn’t revealed until the INRAP began to dig beneath the surface.

On of the biggest finds is a 250-square-meter area that researchers believe used to be the town’s public building. The theory sprouted from the fact that it was once lined with massive columns, like those we are used to see on ancient Roman temples.

Two large multi-colored mosaics with symbols of animals were also found inside the building. Other than patterns and symbols they depict an owl, duck, eagle, and fawn. Preliminary research suggests that the building stood on the site until the end of the first century.

A mosaic of an Owl at the newly discovered ancient Roman city of Ucetia - Denis Gliksman INRAP

A mosaic of an Owl at the newly discovered ancient Roman city of Ucetia – Denis Gliksman/INRAP

The archaeologists also found a 500-square-meter urban dwelling, which also contains mosaic decorations of geometrical patterns, but with depictions of dolphins. It is believed that the building was used to produce wine since several large wine vessels were found there.

There is still much to be discovered about the site and the French researchers are eager to start an even larger excavation campaign.

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