An archaelogical past

The départemental archaeological centre of Ribemont-sur-Ancre 

In 1962, to the north-west of the village of Ribemont-sur-Ancre, Roger Agache discovered visible remains over an area of around 1 km which he interpreted as being those of a huge Gallo-Roman villa. After several years of surveys and aerial photos, the existence of an 80 hectare Gallo-Roman city thought to have been built in 1 BC was finally revealed. Archaeological surveys continued, and in the 1980s, unearthed two ossuaries and a charnel house (a store of human bones and weapons). The results of the anthropological study of the entire cultual site revealed a population which was mainly masculine, with at least 500 individuals. 

In view of the importance of the excavations, a départemental archaeological centre was created in the 1990s. Today it offers the public a guided tour of the archaeological site, a visit to the permanent exhibition areas and above all to the professional areas of the centre (work rooms, laboratories, storage depots of archaeological material...). Tours are accessible solely to groups; information is available on www.centre-archeologie.somme.fr