Découverte d’une canalisation antique sur la colline de Fourvière à Lyon

Abstract

The Fourvière promontory is traditionally considered to have been the site of the forum. However, while the presence of a monumental structure of the site is not contested, other hypotheses, such as the presence of a sanctuary, have been put forward. Recent excavations have been conducted in the last five years. Two sections of the same Roman channel have been uncovered to the north and south of Notre-Dame basilica. The internal channel has the typical characteristics of an aqueduct, consisting of a 0.56 m wide specus in hydraulic mortar. The masonry is made up of two large walls, bringing the total width of the channel to 3 m. The vaulted roof still bears the traces of the shuttering used during its construction. It leans on a north/south wall over a length of 107 m. At the southern end, the channel forms a right-angled return to the west. At the northern end, the water flows into a second pipe made of brick and facing west. The slope runs north to south, between altitudes 288.67 and 288.20 m NGF. We do not have any dating evidence, only that it follows a phase of occupation dating to the Augustan period.The technical characteristics are reminiscent of an aqueduct. One hypothesis is that it belonged to a water distribution system linked to the Gier aqueduct. The existence of tanks in this sector is mentioned without being precisely located.However, other factors, such as the discovery of a channel against a wall to the west of Place de Fourvière during work at the end of the 19th century, prompt us to propose another hypothesis. It could be a runoff collector following the perimeter of a large public square lined with buildings. This idea would support the traditional hypothesis of the presence of the forum in this location.