Strasbourg Reveals 2,000-Year History
Archaeologists in Strasbourg, France have uncovered a vast archaeological record spanning 2,000 years of urban history. The excavation reveals how the city evolved from a Roman frontier settlement to a modern European urban center, with artifacts and layers from different periods showing the complex story of Strasbourg's development.
The dig took place at 3 rue Sainte-Hélène, a site covering 462 square meters within Strasbourg's historic island center. This preventive excavation was conducted by the French National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research (Inrap) before the construction of a tourist residence. Strasbourg, known in Roman times as Argentoratum, was a key military outpost. The excavation site is located in what was the *canabae*, a civilian settlement of traders, artisans, and families that grew outside the fortified camps of the Roman 2nd and 8th Legions. Archaeologists found remains of Roman-era dwellings with cellars about four meters below the current street level. Artifacts from the Roman period include painted wall plaster, roof tiles (*tegulae* and *imbrices*), and fragments of wattle-and-daub construction, indicating the presence of established earth-and-timber buildings for both homes and businesses between the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD. A dense network of masonry walls from the 13th to 16th centuries marks the medieval era on the site. This period is highlighted by the establishment of the Drapers' Guild hall in the late 14th century, a center for the city's important textile economy. An oven discovered from this time likely catered to the guild's communal meals. One of the most significant medieval discoveries is a large, vaulted brick latrine measuring over three meters long and five meters high. Its fill contained a rich collection of artifacts, including ceramics, animal bones, glass vessels, metal utensils, and stove tiles decorated with historical scenes, offering a detailed snapshot of daily life. After the Drapers' Guild was abolished in 1791, the buildings on the site saw a remarkable series of transformations. Historical records and archaeological evidence show it served as a theater, synagogue, furniture store, bistro, gymnasium, cinema, and brewery before being used for storage and housing. The final structures on the site were demolished in 2023, paving the way for the archaeological investigation. Post-excavation analysis is now underway, with specialists studying the vast collection of artifacts to piece together a complete biography of this small but significant parcel of the city.
