Avenches – Roman Museum – Permanent Exhibition

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First Floor The Early Days of Aventicum First Floor The Early Days of Aventicum (Display cases 1-2) The name Aventicum derives from a local Celtic water deity, Aventia, tutelary of the Roman city (display case 2, no. 1). Because of its central position on the Swiss Plateau, the region of Aventicum has been inhabited for a very long time; its easy access to the river and lake network favoured the expansion of commerce and trade. On several occasions, settlement traces dating from periods prior to the Roman conquest have been found both inside and outside the city walls (Late Bronze Age, Hallstatt and La Tène periods). In 58 BC, the Helvetii who had entrenched themselves in the oppidum of the Mount Vully (1) left their homes and migrated towards southeastern Gaul. After their defeat by Julius Caesar’s army at Bibracte (present-day Mount Beuvray in Burgundy), they were forced to return. It is likely that some of them settled on the heights of the Bois de Châtel hill south of Avenches. The hill of Avenches may also have served as a refuge. Only a small number of remains date from the period immediately preceding the establishment of the first urban complex, namely from the 1st century BC. They were discovered in religious contexts such as sanctuaries or tombs (display case 1, no. 1) situated on the slopes of the Avenches hill. These early finds are indigenous Celtic objects such as fibulae (display case 1, nos. 6-7), painted ware (display case 1, no. 5) or fine grey ware (display case 1, no. 4) as well as coins (display case 1, nos. 9-12). Some of them also provide evidence of trade relations with Italy (display case 1, no. 2) and Gaul (display case 1, no. 3). The Celtic coin punch (display case 1, no. 8) is of particular interest. A mere 30 such objects are known in the Celtic world including that discovered on Mount Vully. It is a bronze punch, which was used to strike the obverse of a Celtic denarius. A cremation burial, which was discovered in the area of the settlement, dates from the beginnings of Aventicum, i.e. from the late 1st century BC or early 1st century AD (display case 1, no. 14). The urn, a small ceramic bowl, contained the ashes of a woman and two bronze fibulae were deposited on top. The coin no. 13 (display case 1) dates from the same period. Thanks to wood preserved in the ground (2) it is possible in several cases to establish the exact felling dates of the trees used for the construction of the first known buildings of Aventicum. In this instance, the assistance provided by dendrochronology (dating of the tree rings of a piece of timber) is particularly efficient. Accordingly, the construction of the port began in AD 5; the trees used to build the earliest houses discovered to date were felled in autumn/winter AD 6/7. These houses were already part of the orthogonal road network typical of Roman towns. 1 2 21 First Floor 1 2
First Floor The Indigenous Population Display case 1 Items 1 - 5 were found in the area of the Derrière La Tour sanctuary. 1. Ceramic urn containing cremated human bone. Early 1 st century BC. 2. Terra sigillata plate from Central Italy. The centre shows the potter’s stamp of L. Tetti Crito. Late 1 st century BC. (1) 3. Ceramic plate from the region of Lyons. Late 1 st century BC. 4. Ceramic pot with vertical comb decoration. 1 st century BC. 5. Ceramic pot or bottle, decorated with painted bands. 1 st century BC. 6. Bronze fibula. Late 1 st century BC / early 1 st century AD. 7. Bronze fibula. 1 st century AD. 8. Celtic coin punch (2). 9. Celtic coin: Quinarius of Vatico. Second half of the 1 st century BC. 10. Celtic coin: Quinarius of Caletedu. Second half of the 1 st century BC. 11. Celtic coin: Büschel type Quinarius. Second half of the 1 st century BC. 12. Celtic coin: Sequanian potin. 1 st century BC. 13. Roman coin: Quadrans of Germanus Indutilli. After 15 BC. 14. Burnt ceramic bowl, signed Atei. It contained two bronze fibulae placed on tiny fragments of cremated human bone. Late 1 st century BC / early 1 st century AD. Display case 2 1. Dedication to the goddess Aventia (3) : Deae / Aventiae Cn(aeus)Iul(ius) Marcellinus Equester d(e) s(ua) p(ecunia) « To the goddess Aventia. (Monument erected and) paid for by Gnaeus Iulius Marcellinus from the equestrian colony » Limestone. 1 st – 3 rd century AD. Catalogue of inscriptions : no. 16. The Indigenous Population (Display cases 3-5) Most of the inhabitants of the Roman city of Aventicum were native Celtic Helvetii already living in the region prior to the conquest; a smaller portion of the inhabitants, however, were Romans sent by the emperor in order to advance the city’s development (merchants, businessmen, civil servants). The indigenous population, who outnumbered them by far, were Romanised within a few generations. Rome granted citizenship to a considerable number of Celtic aristocratic families, perhaps in exchange for certain services or land (display case 4, no. 1). The population underwent a process of fast Romanisation and rapidly adopted the customs and habits of the conquerors. 1 2 3 22 First Floor 1 2 3 4 5
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Page 5 and 6: Ground Floor - Introduction Switzer
Page 7 and 8: Ground Floor - Introduction Chronol
Page 9 and 10: Ground Floor The Gallo-Roman Popula
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Page 21: Ground Floor Miscellaneous 31. Lime
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Page 27 and 28: First Floor Weights and Measures Th
Page 29 and 30: First Floor Theatre, Games and Musi
Page 31 and 32: First Floor Trade and Money The Mon
Page 33 and 34: First Floor Trade and Money Money S
Page 35 and 36: First Floor Rome and Aventicum The
Page 37 and 38: First Floor Rome and Aventicum The
Page 39 and 40: First Floor Religion Roman Religion
Page 41 and 42: First Floor Religion Roman Religion
Page 43 and 44: First Floor Religion The Local Gods
Page 45 and 46: First Floor From Late Antiquity to
Page 47 and 48: Second Floor Clothes and Jewellery
Page 49 and 50: Second Floor Body and Health Care A
Page 51 and 52: Second Floor Textile Production 3.
Page 53 and 54: Second Floor Gardens There were var
Page 55 and 56: Second Floor Protective Gods of the
Page 57 and 58: Second Floor Kitchen and Tableware
Page 59 and 60: Second Floor Food The Table of the
Page 61: Second Floor Food Types of Tablewar

Avenches – Roman Museum – Permanent Exhibition

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