The Dig Across the Street.

I've been occupied with other things of late, but finally found the time to do a little research and can now share this update to the blog.

Update on the "big dig" across the street:

I don't know a great deal about this subject, but it is really interesting so I've tried to learn a little about what is called "preventative archeology." One company's website defines it:

 "The goal of preventative archeology is not the conservation of remains, but their repertoire. It helps to feed the documentation of past eras, and intervenes upstream of land development work." 

The information I found sounds like once they know where things are located and catalogued they go ahead and build on it. This seems strange to me unless they eliminate any reason to fully protect the site. It does look like some small items have been removed but will the rest, like walls, be left in place or bull-dozed?  I can envision in the future massive digging destroying items like the walls or tunnels left in place. I suppose we will find out as construction begins.

Across the street, "preventative archeology" work is being carried out as part of the conversion of the Hotel Dieu area (former hospital center) into a library. The Hotel Dieu is located behind the Polyclinique from our vantage point. This photo shows the Hotel Dieu, a multi-winged structure with an odd looking white "something" in an interior courtyard. The white "something" looks a little like an airplane to me. I read somewhere that the Polyclinique itself would eventually become senior housing, but that might have changed or might still change. Anything is possible.

The "preventative archeology" is taking place in an area over 90,000 sq. ft. (2020-2021). 

I located a diagram showing two areas of investigation. The building in the foreground is the Polyclinique. The early work is to the left of the Polyclinique and beyond (yellow and green areas). Last winter we could easily observe the work going on in the yellow area, but once the trees leafed out we could only hear the heavy equipment coming and going.

Dig Diagram:

They may also be digging behind the Polyclinique building.

Notes:  Previous preventative archeology took place behind the Hotel Dieu 2018-2019 covering 142,000 square feet. The area is already filled with buildings. At least some are still in construction. 

What's been found? The work has uncovered part of the ancient city of Clermont-Ferrand then known as Augustonemetum which dates to the 2nd century.  Augustonemetum was the capital of Arvernes and about 20,000 people lived there. The city was established in the area of a former volcanic crater lake. ( Obviously, there is no volcano and no lake now!). One benefit of this location was an underground water source available at the time. At least a couple of wells were located. The wells had traces of orange oxidation apparently indicating contact with thermomineral water and air. The presence of underground water sources might help explain the origin of the city in the first place. Note: Our apartment building has 4 streets around it. One of these streets is Rue du Puits Artesian. In English it means artesian well street.

Evidence suggests that the early "road" uncovered during excavation seems to have been abandoned by the end of the 2nd century. Additional walls and level changes made to the road area lasted until the 3rd century. Level changes and building on the site after this period apparently have made it impossible to be certain whether this area was a residential area or perhaps an area dedicated to trades such as a butcher's shop. Several burial sites have been discovered during this extensive excavation, one from the 1st century, a couple from the 4th-5th centuries and a couple from the middle ages. Various other things have been recovered including nails, pottery, a buried silo, and a stone well date from the middle ages. 

 The next three photos were pulled from a report I found detailing the excavations.

The most recent work I've photographed and written about is in front and to the right of the Polyclinique. The area in front of the Polyclinique hasn't changed at all in a couple of months.

Lately they have been focusing on the area to the right of the Polyclinique building. Before our Jul/Aug time away, digging and soil removal was happening at a rapid rate next to the "wooden wall". Then, suddenly, one day digging stopped and there were multiple people on the site, several on phones, with lots of pointing going on. They have uncovered some old structures, like stone walls, in this area as well. 

These two photos were taken in September.

The work began in November, 2020 and was supposed to last 10 months. It is still ongoing. The holes in this area are deeper and they are still working with even more crew! Maybe they were finding some really interesting things!

The hole being dug by the heavy equipment in the photo above is at least 12 feet deep. I saw a worker climb down a ladder and completely disappear. I am surprised that the surface fall protection is merely a red/white striped tape between two poles. It looks like they have uncovered some walls or chambers.

We'll be able to get a better view of the progress once the leaves are completely off the trees. There is not much color as the leaves change-- mostly just shades of brown.

Last minute note just as I publish: As of November 20, they were still at it.

But suddenly on about November 27, they stopped the dig and started bringing in massive amounts of fill trying to level things out again. I suppose the next step is construction of the new buildings which will possibly destroy the existing ancient structures. Hmmm.