Les agglomérations du Centre-Est de la Gaule : quel devenir durant l’Antiquité tardive ?

Abstract

Since the 1980s the study of Roman urban features has been given a particular focus in the ten departments that make up the Centre-East of France. A research program overviewing this subject, in particular the evolution of agglomerations from the Late Iron Age to the beginning of the Medieval period was developed in 2012 (« AggloCenE »). Despite the difficulties encountered relating to methodology and documentation, it has been possible to develop an evolving image of Late Antiquity of a series of representative sites. The reality of urban retraction, the abandonment or mutation of public places, the changes of use within these evolutions can now be discussed on a more solid basis. The profound changes of the city capitals and the large agglomerations of the Late Iron Age are not necessarily reflected in other cases such as road sites. In parallel, the establishment of strategic road systems largely contributes in reinforcing some networks and eradicating others. Finally, this period seems to be characterized by the emergence of centres that progressively take their place in a landscape inherited from the beginning of the Early Roman period.