Des objets en bois remarquables issus d’un puits de la place d’Assas à Nîmes (Gard)

Abstract

The archaeological excavation of Assas Square in Nîmes in 2003 brought to light a vast hypostyle edifice built around the change of the era, which was subsequently reworked, then unfortunately levelled. The interpretation of the structure is thus uncertain, but the hypothesis that it was a building for public commercial use is plausible. The building is in the heart of the town forum, near and to the west of the Maison Carrée. This is the setting in which well PT3094 was discovered. It was probably used temporarily, then rapidly filled in around 60-70 AD. Fifteen rare and remarkable wooden objects were found in this humid environment, such as various boxes, including two boxes with mirrors and two signet boxes, fragments of writing tablets, a hinge from a piece of furniture, three spindle fragments, the base of a wicker basket, etc. The observation of these objects resulted in the identification of the wood species used, and the manufacturing processes were reconstructed thanks to wood shavings and shaping and sawing waste. Woodworking craftsmen were thus undoubtedly established in or in the immediate vicinity of the forum.