PREVIOUS   NEXT   CONTENTS   HOME 

4.3 South-western side

Our south-western delimitation of the urban area is based on the presence of clear, linear demarcations in the wooded area of the eastern slope of the Malhadais hill. These linear structures (in part simple earthworks with a width of 1–3m and a preserved height of no more than 0.5m, in part standing field walls) at the same time mark the cadastral limits of the fields in this area. These earthworks and low walls contain many blocks of granite, some of which have the 'Roman cut', comparable to in situ blocks discovered during excavation of the city wall near the museum. In one location, near the top of this hillock a larger and almost round heap of granites, schists and other rubble could even suggest the presence of a tower compound in the presumed wall circuit. It is in a very strategic location and permits a wide panoramic view over the immediate surroundings of the Roman city. The presence of such a tower compound, if confirmed by further fieldwork and preferably excavations, could well explain the extension of the town's walled area to this almost uninhabitable (too steep) hilly area of the landscape.


 PREVIOUS   NEXT   CONTENTS   HOME 

© Internet Archaeology/Author(s)
University of York legal statements | Terms and Conditions | Last updated: Mon Nov 21 2005