11-06-2025
Ancient Roman Villa, Largest of Its Kind, Unearthed in France
Archaeologists in France have unearthed one of the largest Roman-era villas ever found in the country, the Institut National de Recherches Archéologiques Préventives (French National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research—INRAP) reported.
The villa was discovered in Burgundy and is believed to have once belonged to an aristocratic Roman who owned a great deal of land in the area. The site has been recognized as an archaeological site since the 19th century, but proper excavations didn't begin until 1966 when one structure, spanning 700 square meters, was unearthed. With the latest discovery, which spans 4,000 m², scientists now believe that the first structure was just one piece of a much larger compound.
The most recent excavation revealed a substantial residential area located near a spacious garden measuring about 900 m², which led to a quadrangular pool on one side and a fountain on the other, both of which were common fixtures of Roman-era garden design. Fencing the garden were colonnaded galleries which led to an assortment of technical rooms, reception halls, and staff quarters, including what was likely a kitchen. The complex's eastern wing was found to contain a large bathing complex.
Researchers believe that the layout suggests the complex was constructed in two or three different phases. Though only part of it has been recovered, it is already one of the most expansive Roman encampments ever discovered in the region. The materials and relics found at the site will undergo further analysis to determine details about the daily lives of the complex's Roman Villa, Largest of Its Kind, Unearthed in France first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 11, 2025
