Reims (Marne), rues E. Mignot et G. Boyer

Overview & Synopsis

The excavation carried out on Rue Émile-Mignot revealed several features associated with chalk extraction, documenting activities already well attested elsewhere in Reims. Two distinct forms of exploitation were identified. The first consisted of the systematic stripping of superficial weathered deposits in order to extract yellow chalk, probably used in the manufacture of mud bricks or in the construction of floors and foundations. In the absence of associated artefacts, this phase cannot be dated with precision. The second form of extraction is represented by large excavated features intended to obtain white chalk. Owing to their substantial dimensions, these features can be interpreted as true chalk quarries that supplied materials for major urban works, including roads, public buildings and possibly lime production. Although no lime kiln was identified in the vicinity, such a use cannot be ruled out. Ceramic analysis allows at least two phases of quarrying activity to be distinguished. One quarry was abandoned during the middle of the 1st century AD, whereas the others were filled in during the second half of the 2nd century AD. The evidence further indicates a more intensive development within Sector 1, where a chalk surface bordered by drainage ditches reflects efforts to improve drainage and organise the area. A dense concentration of postholes recorded in the north-western corner suggests the presence of associated buildings, although their layout cannot be reconstructed. From the middle of the 2nd century AD onwards, the eastern part of the sector was backfilled with deposits already containing waste from the bone-working industry. The subsequent accumulation of hydromorphic sediments indicates a damp, and perhaps partially waterlogged, environment, which likely explains the construction of the drainage system. Occupation evidence in Sector 2 is more limited. Apart from a large ditch of uncertain function, only a few pits and small cut features were identified. The ditch nevertheless fits perfectly within the urban layout and cadastral organisation of the Roman city. Its fill, dated to the middle of the 3rd century AD, yielded a remarkable assemblage of faunal remains dominated by cattle bones representing a minimum of 150 individuals. Combined with the presence of manufacturing waste, this exceptional concentration demonstrates the importance of the bone-working industry in this part of the city during the 3rd century AD and may reflect a peak in artisanal activity.