Here are some of the cool artifacts and sites that I saw!
Red Pottery Shard
This pottery shard from Martres de Veyre shows the Roman Goddess Fortuna (right) and a man dancing with two snakes. This pot was most likely used for decoration, considering the design. This not only shows that the Romans spread art techniques and styles such as creating reliefs and pottery, but also that the Gallic people adopted Roman religion. The image of a Roman goddess is representative of how the Gallic people converted, but the man with the snakes shows how they also maintained their religion. This cultural syncretism helps define the Roman impact on Gaul.
Statue de Neptune
This statue of the Roman God Neptune was found near Arles. This statue would likely be decoration in a basilica or wealthy family's home. The statue not only displays the civilized, luxurious quality of urban life in Gaul, but it is yet another example of religious conversion. The Statue de Neptune displays the new wealth and frivolity that the Romans brought to Gallic life, as well as Roman religious influence.
Cremation Jar
This jar from Clermont contains cremated human ash. Cremation was a common Roman funerary practice from the late republic to the first century AD. The presence of these remains shows that the Gallic people adopted popular Roman cultural practices. However, cremation soon declined in Rome at the beginning of the common era, which means that the Gallic people adopted this practice very fast after they were conquered. The artifact not only displays that the Romans influenced the Galls, but that they did so very rapidly. This is evidence that Romanization was not a gradual change, but a very fast and successful one, considering that the new practices were adopted with ease. This highlights the smoothness of the cultural transitions that occurred in Gaul.
Carafe Glass
This carafe glass from 1st century Martres de Veyre was used to serve water and/or wine. It is obviously a luxury item, displaying yet again how urban areas were a place of wealth. Roman glass-making techniques were imported to Gaul by Roman artisans. This is a display of how not only goods, but also ideas were exchanged between the two regions. The artisans' spread of these techniques allowed the Galls to trade goods with other regions such as Britain. This glass is a symbol of urban wealth and also of the interaction and exchange of ideas between the Galls and Romans.
Statue de Venus
This clay figurine displays the Roman Goddess of beauty, Venus. The figurine was most likely used as decoration or as an image to pray to in the home of a wealthy aristocrat. The contraposto pose that the goddess is standing in is most certainly Roman, displaying the diffusion of artistic styles from Rome to Gaul. It also capitalizes on the spread of the Roman religion and the Gallic conversion. However, while most Roman figurines are made of marble, this one is made of clay. This means that Gallic artisans maintained some of their techniques for creation of sculpture while merely adopting Roman poses and figures. This also displays how resourceful the artisans were in using available materials.
Nimes Amphitheatre
This monumental amphitheatre was so well preserved that it is still used today! Rome's taste for chivalry was spread to Gaul, meaning that the popular entertainment of gladiator games and animal "hunts" were enjoyed by the Gallic people as well. The spread of this entertainment further assimilated the Galls and made them even more a part of the Roman imperium. No other structure more appropriately displays the Romanization of popular culture in Gaul than the Nimes amphitheatre.
Clay Flagon
This second century flagon was discovered in the French countryside. It is not elaborately decorated, so it was used for practical purposes like holding water. This shows that although the Romans invigorated urban wealth, they did not reach all areas equally. Poorer rural families still manufactured vessels like this by their own means for their own needs. For the non-elites, life in Gaul was still based in old lifestyles. The clay flagon represents the group of less wealthy Galls that were not as affected by Rome's wealth.
Wooden Tomb Boxes
These white painted boxes were discovered in a tomb near Martres de Veyre, and were created using a lathe. The fact that they were found in a tomb means that the Galls adopted the Roman practice of burying items with their dead to take in the afterlife. This even further shows the degree to which the Romans influenced Gallic culture. It is also significant that they were created with a lathe. This technology originated in Egypt, and was improved upon by the Romans. We can now conclude that not only were goods, artistic styles, and cultural aspects spread by Rome, but also their technological and engineering genius. This spread of technology allowed for future innovations to occur in the region. The boxes display both a spread of cultural practices and technology.
Woolen Slippers
These second century slippers were found near Clermont. These are obviously not of Roman origin, as sandals were the common footwear worn in the empire. Although the Galls adopted many aspects of Roman culture, these slippers show that they also maintained some traditions of their own. This highlights that the fact the Galls didn't become exclusively Roman, but instead blended their culture with Roman imports. Wool is very warm, which also suggests that temperatures could get low at night and during the winter. It also suggests that the Galls raised sheep to provide them with the wool. The slippers give glimpses into the climate and livestock of Gaul, as well as the traditions that they maintained.
Acy-Romance
The village of Acy-Romance was found in modern-day Reims. This is one of the largest Gallic villages to be excavated, and through studying the site, archaeologists have been able to recreate what the village may have looked like in Roman times. Acy-Romance is actually a small village next to a large city that the Romans created. While archaeologists can evaluate city layouts through the modern cities that exist today, villages are more sparse. This village gives insight into what Gallic rural life was like during Roman occupation. Some evidence of better political organization made up of a council has been found, so although rural areas were not as affected by the Romans as urban areas, they were still influenced. Discoveries of granaries also point to Roman food storage methods. In order to evaluate what life was like in Gaul as a whole, it is important to look at both rural and urban aspects, and this village helps with the rural side of understanding. The size of the village also shows that the agricultural producing peoples were still very important in supporting Gaul's food needs and shaping its culture.