Discovery of remains of the Greek town in Marseille |
|
Collection title
Provence Actualités
First broadcast date
10/28/1967
Abstract
The work undertaken by the property company of Marseille to modernize the Exchange district have led to the discovery of remains of the city of Marseille, founded 26 centuries BC.
Minister A. Malraux said the excavations were public utility and Professor Senna confirms that this archaeological find is the largest of the last decade in France.
Primary theme
Archaeological sites
Secondary themes
- Historical heritages / Antiquity
Credits / Cast
- Leschi Daniel - Journalist
Map locations
- France - South East - Marseille
Context
Discovery of remains of the Greek town in Marseille
Repères méditerranéens
The discovery of archaeological remains under the site of a planned shopping centre in the very heart of old Marseille in 1967 was a major event for the town's history and heritage. In fact these remains had been first revealed at the end of the 19th century, when building works were carried out on the Rue Colbert. Then, in 1913, as Maurice Euzennat explains in this clip, fresh building works uncovered an important frgament of wall and this was classified as a historical building in 1916. Attributed to the Roman era, it was called "Crinas' wall" from the name of the Marseille doctor who in Nero's time (1st century AD) , apparently insisted this wall should be kept and shown off. But Eugen Duprat, history teacher at the local high school, believed the wall dated from the 17th century, which somewhat diminshed the importance of the discovery. The project to improve the area round the Bourse in the 1960's included building an underground car park on the site. Work began in February 1967 and very quickly the extent and importance of these walls became clear, since it was found they stretch for some 50 metres. That set off a press campaign and a public debate, which resulted in the works being suspended. The ministry of culture ordered a study, subsequently authorising the first archaeological excavation of an urban site in France. The city council, at first hesitant because of the delay this discovery would cause, came round to the idea of preserving the excavations and organised a "Gardens of the Remains", complete with its own museum.
The excavations (1967-76) were led by Maurice Euzennat and François Salviat. The remains date from the Greek era, more precisely from the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC, at the time the town of Marseille was just developing. In the Garden of the Remains the walls of the town, built in stone from Cap Couronne, protect the old streets and curved jetty of the port. A very old well (earlier than the 6th century) shows the site was naturally provided with fresh water. The ships could replenish their stores in the port's large pool. At the northern end of the site, tombs and a funeral enclosure were uncovered, as well as incineration urns dating from the 4th century BC. The town's rich Musée d'histoire under the Bourse shopping centre, displays objects discovered during the excavations and traces the history of the town up to present.
Bibliography:
Bertrand Régis, Le patrimoine de Marseille : une ville et ses monuments, Marseille, Éditions Jeanne Laffitte, 2001.
Antoine Hermary (dir.), Antoinette Hesnard et Henri Tréziny, Marseille grecque 600-49 av. J-C : la cité phocéenne, Paris, Ed. Errance, 1999.
Web-site
