Un étang sacré à Vindinum/Le Mans (Sarthe)

Abstract

A recent rescue excavation led to the discovery of an ancient urban area in the city center of Le Mans (Sarthe). In addition to two lanes and some craft buildings the area includes the course of an ancient stream, which structured the human occupation and determined the creation of a water pool identified as a sacred pond. This paper summarizes the first stages of reflection on how the site was organised and on the religious practices being performed.