VIROVIACUM
(Wervik) Belgium.
A vicus
on the road from Turnacum (Tournai) to Castellum
Menapiorum (Cassel), mentioned in the
Antonine Itinerary (376) and the
Peutinger Table (which gives the
form Virovino). The identification with Wervik was
essentially based on toponymy, but for a long time remained uncertain because the two documents gave
contradictory distances; excavations conducted in 1950
confirmed it. These excavations cut through the Tournai-Cassel road (7 m wide at that point) and uncovered
an important archaeological level with remains of wooden buildings, dumps, a potter's kiln, traces of ironworks (with a smelting furnace), and a well. The upper part of the well was a masonry drum with large ashlars; the
lower part consisted of a square wooden lining. Study
of the pottery indicates that the vicus was occupied
from the middle of the 1st c. A.D. until about the middle
of the 3d. Probably the center was sacked during one
of the barbarian invasions of the second half of the 3d c.
There is no proof that the site was reoccupied during
the 4th c.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
M. Bauwens-Lesenne,
Bibliografisch
repertorium der oudheidkundige vondsten in Westvlaanderen (1963) 128-31; H. Goeminne, “Opgravingen in
de Romeinse Vicus te Wervik,”
Arch.Belgica 117
(1970)
MPI.
S. J. DE LAET
