Oppidum de Roque de Viou
Encyclopedia
The Oppidum de Roque de Viou is on a hilltop overlooking the valley called the Vaunage
, above the village of Nages-et-Solorgues
, in Gard
, between Nîmes
et Sommières
, in Languedoc-Rousillon, France
. It is in the commune of Saint-Dionizy
and is one of six iron-age
oppida
in the Vaunage; about 200m from the Oppidum de Nages or Oppidum des Castels. It was occupied in three periods between 700 BCE and 600 BCE and between 350 BCE and 300 BCE and around 50 BCE.
at the edge of the garrigue
s plateau, surrounded by 200m-high hills that isolate it from the surroundings. There are two natural entrances, one to east coming from Nîmes
, and one to the south towards Vergèze
. As the name suggests Nages, and the hill behind play a dominant rôle in the area. There are hundreds of archaeological sites in the Vaunage.
These valleys have been populated for over 2,000 years. Six oppida, dominated by that at Nages, were home to the Volques Arécomiques, who built them in the 8th century BC and remained there till the 1st century AD :
). There was further occupation of the Roque de Viou also round 50BCE. The oppidium contained public buildings, roads, houses and shops a fanum(Gaulish temple). Due its proximity to the Oppidum des Castel, non specialists often call both oppida, the Oppidum de Nages.
Vaunage
The Vaunage is an area of southern France made up of the plain and the small hills around Nages. It is known for its oppidum. The Vaunage area is located between Languedoc and Provence and between Sommières and Nîmes...
, above the village of Nages-et-Solorgues
Nages-et-Solorgues
Nages-et-Solorgues is a commune in the Gard department in southern France.-Population:-References:*...
, in Gard
Gard
Gard is a département located in southern France in the Languedoc-Roussillon region.The department is named after the River Gard, although the formerly Occitan name of the River Gard, Gardon, has been replacing the traditional French name in recent decades, even among French speakers.- History...
, between Nîmes
Nîmes
Nîmes is the capital of the Gard department in the Languedoc-Roussillon region in southern France. Nîmes has a rich history, dating back to the Roman Empire, and is a popular tourist destination.-History:...
et Sommières
Sommières
Sommières is a commune in the Gard department in southern France.It lies from Nîmes, from Montpellier.-Geography:Sommières is to the south of the garrigues and on the edge of the Vaunage, a wine growing region. It straddles the River Vidourle.-History:...
, in Languedoc-Rousillon, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. It is in the commune of Saint-Dionizy
Saint-Dionizy
Saint-Dionisy is a commune in the Gard department in southern France.-Population:-External links:*...
and is one of six iron-age
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
oppida
Oppidum
Oppidum is a Latin word meaning the main settlement in any administrative area of ancient Rome. The word is derived from the earlier Latin ob-pedum, "enclosed space," possibly from the Proto-Indo-European *pedóm-, "occupied space" or "footprint."Julius Caesar described the larger Celtic Iron Age...
in the Vaunage; about 200m from the Oppidum de Nages or Oppidum des Castels. It was occupied in three periods between 700 BCE and 600 BCE and between 350 BCE and 300 BCE and around 50 BCE.
History
The name Vaunages is a contraction of "Vallée de Nages", the valley of Nages, which is a furrowed combeCombe
-English place names:* Combe, Berkshire* Combe, Buckfastleigh, Devon* Combe, Yealmpton, Devon* Combe, Herefordshire* Combe, Oxfordshire* Combe, Somerset-Places in England with combe as one word in part of their name:Cumbria* Black CombeDevon...
at the edge of the garrigue
Garrigue
Garrigue or phrygana is a type of low, soft-leaved scrubland ecoregion and plant community in the Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub biome. It is found on limestone soils around the Mediterranean Basin, generally near the seacoast, where the climate is ameliorated, but where annual summer...
s plateau, surrounded by 200m-high hills that isolate it from the surroundings. There are two natural entrances, one to east coming from Nîmes
Nîmes
Nîmes is the capital of the Gard department in the Languedoc-Roussillon region in southern France. Nîmes has a rich history, dating back to the Roman Empire, and is a popular tourist destination.-History:...
, and one to the south towards Vergèze
Vergèze
Vergèze is a commune in the Gard department in southern France.-Population:-References:*...
. As the name suggests Nages, and the hill behind play a dominant rôle in the area. There are hundreds of archaeological sites in the Vaunage.
These valleys have been populated for over 2,000 years. Six oppida, dominated by that at Nages, were home to the Volques Arécomiques, who built them in the 8th century BC and remained there till the 1st century AD :
- Oppidum de NagesOppidum de NagesThe Oppidum de Nages or Oppidum des Castels is on a hilltop overlooking the valley called the Vaunage, above the village of Nages-et-Solorgues, in Gard, between Nîmes et Sommières, in Languedoc-Rousillon, France...
in the commune of Nages-et-SolorguesNages-et-SolorguesNages-et-Solorgues is a commune in the Gard department in southern France.-Population:-References:*...
; in the commune of the same name; - Oppidum de Roque de Viou, an earlier settlement in the commune of Saint-DionizySaint-DionizySaint-Dionisy is a commune in the Gard department in southern France.-Population:-External links:*...
but on the same ridge only some 200m away from the Oppidum de Nages - Oppidum de la Liquière, above the hamlet of Sinsans, in the commune of CalvissonCalvissonCalvisson is a commune in the Gard department in the Languedoc-Roussillon region in southern France.It lies between Nîmes, Montpellier, the Cevennes and the Camargue and has a strong Protestant history.-Geography:...
; - Oppidum de la Font du Coucou above Calvisson ;
- Oppidum du Roc de Gachonne above Calvisson ;
- Oppidum de Mauressip or "Mouressipe", in the commune of Saint-Côme-et-MaruéjolsSaint-Côme-et-MaruéjolsSaint-Côme-et-Maruéjols is a commune in the Gard department in southern France.-Population:-References:*...
.
Archaeology
Three stages of occupation can be detected. The Volques first occupied the Oppidum de Roque de Viou about 700 BCE, and left around 600. They reoccupied about 400BCE, then about 280 BCE moved into the larger Oppidum des Castel but abandoned it about 50 BCE moving into the Gallo-roman settlement of Nemausis (NimesNîmes
Nîmes is the capital of the Gard department in the Languedoc-Roussillon region in southern France. Nîmes has a rich history, dating back to the Roman Empire, and is a popular tourist destination.-History:...
). There was further occupation of the Roque de Viou also round 50BCE. The oppidium contained public buildings, roads, houses and shops a fanum(Gaulish temple). Due its proximity to the Oppidum des Castel, non specialists often call both oppida, the Oppidum de Nages.