Strasbourg Dig Reveals 2000 Years

The dig, conducted by the French National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research (Inrap), took place at 3 rue Sainte-Hélène ahead of the construction of a new tourist residence. Spanning 462 square meters, the excavation reached a depth of nearly four meters below the current street level to touch the earliest layers of settlement. In the Roman era, Strasbourg was known as Argentoratum, a major military camp founded around 12 BC. The excavation site is located in what was the *canabae legionis*, a civilian district of merchants, artisans, and families that grew around the fortified camps of the Second and Eighth Legions. Archaeologists found remains of two semi-subterranean cellars from the 2nd to 3rd centuries AD, providing a glimpse into daily life in the Roman settlement. After the Roman period, the area saw significant development starting in the late 12th century. The dig uncovered a dense network of masonry walls made of orange brick, indicating continuous rebuilding and expansion between the 13th and 16th centuries as Strasbourg grew into a major medieval city. Evidence suggests the buildings may have been annexes to the Drapers' Guild complex, possibly including a tavern. One of the most significant medieval discoveries was a set of imposing vaulted latrines, over five meters high, built entirely of brick. The fill from these latrines served as a time capsule, yielding a treasure trove of artifacts that paint a picture of the diet and lifestyle of the city's prosperous cloth merchants. Among the items recovered from the latrine were medieval ceramics, animal bones, fish remains, eggshells, and glass vessels. Archaeologists also found metal utensils like knives and numerous stove tiles, some decorated with high-quality narrative scenes, offering rare insight into the trade and craftsmanship of the period.