thesis

Nîmes : origine et développement urbain (fin VIe s. av. J.-C./IIIe s. ap. J.-C.)

Defense date:

Jan. 1, 1997

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Institution:

Aix-Marseille 1

Disciplines:

Literature

Authors:

Directors:

Abstract EN:

This thesis presents an analytical approach to the urban evolution of nimes (gard, france) from the end of the vith century bc, time of the apparition of the agglomeration, and the iiird century ad. After a general introduction concerned with the major geographical caracteristics, as well as a brief presentation of the history of local archaeological research, the documentary base on which this study is founded can be established thanks to an inventory of sites. All recent excavations between 1965 and march 1996, which can be located precisely on the current town plan, are treated in the catalogue with abundant illustrated notes. Some less recent observations are also taken into account in this inventory when they seem likely to have participated in the restitution of the main urban landscape. The synthesis which follows reveals the slow elaboration of the agglomeration from the first village installed on the slopes and at the foot of the mont-cavalier up to the roman town, characterized in particullary by it's vast surrounding wall dating from the era of august. For each of the big chronological periods defined - end of vith c. Bc/end of iiith c. Bc; iind/ist c. Bc; era of august and earlier empire; iiird c. Ad and onwards -, the following criteria are succesively aborded : arterial roads, necropolis, fields, possible peripheral establishments; town limits, urban topography as revealed by the streets, blocks of houses and neighbourhoods; the monumental public complexes and their organic relationships; private homes and finally traces of handicraft and commercial activities. The general conclusion treats more specifically historical material which emanates from this topographical urban study.

Abstract FR:

Cette these est l'occasion d'un essai d'analyse de l'evolution urbaine de nimes (gard, france) entre la fin du vie s. Av. J. -c. , date d'apparition de l'agglomeration, et le iiie s. Ap. J. -c. Apres une introduction generale consacree aux principales caracteristiques geographiques du site ainsi qu'a une breve presentation de l'histoire de la recherche archeologique locale, un catalogue de sites permet d'etablir les bases documentaires sur lesquelles se fonde l'etude. Toutes les fouilles recentes realisees entre 1965 et mars 1996, et qui peuvent etre positionnees avec precision sur le plan actuel de la ville, y sont traitees sous la forme de notices abondamment illustrees. Quelques observations plus anciennes ont egalement ete prises en compte dans cet inventaire, lorsqu'elles etaient susceptibles de participer a la restitution des grandes lignes du paysage urbain. Les syntheses qui suivent permettent de suivre la lente elaboration de l'agglomeration depuis le premier village installe surles pentes et a la base du mont-cavalier jusqu'a la ville romaine, caracterisee notamment par sa vaste enceinte augusteenne. Pour chacune des grandes periodes chronologiques definies - fin vie s. /fin iiie s. Av. J. -c. ; iie/ier s. Av. J. -c. ; epoque augusteenne et haut-empire; iiie s. Et destinee ulterieure -, on aborde successivement la proche peripherie de l'agglomeration - voies, necropoles, champs, eventuels etablissements periurbains -; les limites de la ville; la topographie urbaine au travers des rues, des ilots et, au-dela, des quartiers; les ensembles monumentaux publics et leurs liaisons organiques; les habitations privees et les traces d'activites artisanales et commerciales. La conclusion generale, enfin, traite des apports plus specifiquement historiques qui ressortent de cette etude de topographie urbaine.