CASTELNAU-MONTRATIER
Lot, France.
In the valley of the Barguelonne near the Souquet mill,
an imposing group of Gallo-Roman ruins has been known
for a long time. They rise tier upon tier along the valley
slope and cover almost 4000 sq m. Partial excavations
carried out from 1962 to 1964 have brought to light what
may be the platform of a temple and a series of basins
and pools. Certain pieces of architectural ornamentation
and the quality of the construction suggest that the site
was not a villa, but rather a rural sanctuary with temple,
theater, and baths, similar to several others in central
and W Gaul.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
A. Viré, “Les vestiges gallo-romains
dans la vallée de la Barguelonne,”
Bull. de la Soc. des Et.
du Lot 52 (1931) 231-32; C-A. Delbur, “La présence
romaine dans la vallée de la Barguelonne,” ibid. 84
(1963) 251-59 & 85 (1964) 161-70; M. Labrousse in
Gallia 20 (1962) 590; 22 (1964) 458-61 & figs. 39-45;
24 (1966) 440-41 & figs. 32-33; 26 (1968) 546-47 & fig.
33 (over-all plan of ruins).
M. LABROUSSE
