In 2010 French archaeologists carried out excavations on a 3.5 hectares site in Bassing, Moselle. Over a period of one thousand years – 200 BCE to 800 CE – this site had been occupied by a Gallic aristocratic establishment, a Gallo-Roman villa and several medieval buildings.
Numerous weapons and the discovery of 1,165 Gallic coins testify to this place belonging to the Bassing elite, both during and after the Gallic wars (58 to 50 BCE).
Elite farmer and warrior
Between 150 and 120 BCE, a large rural settlement was built at Bassing. A 3 metre wide ditch with sloping sides and palisade surrounded the habitation area (1 hectare in size). Inside this stood wooden farm buildings and a farmhouse. This group lasted until 14 CE.
The size of the farm and its ditches and the richness of the excavated materials has reveal the privileged status of the occupants. The jewellery featured bracelets of cobalt blue glass along with a piece of Baltic amber and123 fibulae, some of which had been produced on-site. In fact, the site produced evidence for foundry activities, spinning, weaving and shoemaking. It is also apparent from the discovery of many amphorae and Italian drink strainers that wine imported from the Mediterranean was drunk in large quantities.
Military coat fibula (length: 16 cm) of Augustan period. Image: © Lino Mocci, Inrap
Located on Franco territory between Department (Metz) and Saverne oppida, this Bassing aristocrat was not only a successful farmer, but also a warrior. Both Gallic and Italic items were uncovered, including parts of chariots, a battle axe, a Roman Legionary dagger (pugio), arrowheads, uniform adornments and nails for sandals and Roman cavalry horse shoes.
The conquest of Gaul appeared not to have adversely affected the occupants. During this troubled period the settlement appears to be stable and prosperous with a dense and constant population. In 27 BCE, stone replaced wood in the rural settlement still located within the Gallic enclosure.
1,165 Gallic coins
This site contained an exceptional monetary deposit of 1,165 Gallic coins; dispersed since the middle ages by farming practices. The archaeologists gradually collected the coins during the 2010 works, finally amassing a total of 1,111 silver, 3 gold and 51 bronze, buried between 40 and 20 BCE. All these coins were issued during the 1st century BCE, the majority just after the Gallic wars.
One of the peculiarities of this treasure is that it mainly consists of silver coins. Indeed, in this period, bronze coins andgossip (copper, tin and lead alloy), occupy a central place in daily exchange. What is very rare is the three gold coins which are local. The two kilograms of silver include different types of coins issued in several regions of Gaul:
- 74% are from East-Central Gaul and belong to the Sequani of Besançon, the Lingones de Langres, the Aedui de Bibracte and Autun
- 14% are from the people of the Val de Loire, 7% from Remes of Reims (Belgiun Gaul)
- 3% of the Arverni in Clermont-Ferrand
- A few rare copies belong to the Rhône, people located near Lyon
These currencies are the Gallic imitation of quinaires, a Roman silver coin, with a diameter of less than 1.5 cm. Northeastern Gaul, nicknamed “the area of the Gallic last” by numismatists, distinguished itself after the conquest by the imitation of Roman coins. The last Gallic is equivalent to a demi-denier (or quinaire) of the Roman Republic. This standard facilitated trade between Rome and Gaul.
Very few copies of this coin depicting a helmeted Roman are known in France: four were found on the site of Bassing. Image: © Loïc de Cargouët, Inrap
Romanised Gauls
One third of the Bassing coins contains imitations with striking defects. Some depictions of Graeco-Roman, helmeted Roman or Gallic warriors are rough in style. These imitations are usually carried out in emergency contexts. Between the years 40-30 BCE, the lack of Roman Denarii in necessary quantities, meant that such copies were minted for military contingents including the Gallic auxiliary troops recruited into the Roman army.
It seems from the archaeological and artefactual evidence that the nobility of Bassing enjoyed great wealth both before, during and after the conquest of Gaul. During the conquest, Caesar relied on a section of the Gallic elite and this nobility largely adhered to the new Roman power. Local aristocrats and their warrior contingents, later contributed to the Roman conquests. The Bassing hoard is equivalent at the beginning of the Empire, to a year and a half salary for a Roman legionnaire. It is possible that this large sum of money could represent a Mediomatrique (a people of Belgic Gaul, including part of French Moselle region) chieftan’s funds to pay his own troops.
Source: INRAP
This research was carried out in advance of the construction of the East European high-speed rail line by network Ferré de France.
Fuente / Iturria: http://www.pasthorizonspr.com/index.php/archives/12/2012/gallic-elite-prospered-from-roman-occupation
