Tuilerie romaine de Fargout
Origin of the name Tuilerie romaine de Fargout
The site is named after the Bois de Fargout, where it lies. The origin of the name Fargout has not yet been explained.[1]
Founding of Tuilerie romaine de Fargout
The site lies in the woods of Chancy, in the municipality of Chancy, on a small rise overlooking the Rhône. At the end of the 2nd or the beginning of the 3rd century a tile workshop settled in the ruins of a Gallo-Roman temple: a place of worship gave way to intense craft activity. For at least a hundred years the kilns fired loads of several thousand tiles. Several kilns very probably worked at the same time. The large kiln excavated in 2009 dates, by its typology, from the 3rd century. In the early Middle Ages the activity ended and gave way to a large building on wooden posts.[1][2]
History of Tuilerie romaine de Fargout
Late 2nd-early 3rd century. A tile workshop settles in the ruins of a Gallo-Roman temple, on a rise overlooking the Rhône.[2]
3rd century. Construction, by its typology, of the large tile kiln, 6.10 m by 5.40 m, with eight supporting walls. Tiles fired well before its construction may point to an earlier installation.[1]
4th century. Last firing of the kiln, dated by thermoluminescence.[1]
Early Middle Ages. The activity ends; a large building on wooden posts, set on the earlier structures, is used for farming and herding or as a dwelling. A post hole dug into a vault of the kiln points to a late, perhaps craft, use.[1][2]
1918. The kiln is uncovered for the first time. Part of its structures do not survive this excavation.[1]
1922. Publication by P. Cailler and Bachofen on the kiln.[1]
2009. After forestry work in the Bois de Fargout, the cantonal archaeology service excavates the kiln to complete the old documentation.[1]
Historic sites in Tuilerie romaine de Fargout
Bois de Fargout. Forest on the cool slopes of Chancy, with giant trees, Roman ruins and old boundary stones.[2]
Tile workshop. Firing was slow: it took three to seven days to reach about 900 degrees, then a week of cooling, two weeks in all for one kiln load.[2]
Remains in Tuilerie romaine de Fargout
Tile kiln. Large kiln, 6.10 m by 5.40 m, with eight supporting walls, well preserved overall despite the parts lost in the 1918 excavation.[1]
Gallo-Roman temple. Ruins of the temple in which the tile workshop settled.[2]
Sources
- Service cantonal d'archéologie, Office du patrimoine et des sites de Genève, « Le four à tuiles romain du Bois de Fargout à Chancy (GE) » (Four de Chancy 2009), septembre 2010
- Commune de Chancy, « Curiosités » (texte du Service cantonal d'archéologie)
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Chancy » (Catherine Santschi), version du 11.11.2003
- geo.admin.ch, service de recherche de swisstopo (lieu-dit Bois de Fargout, Chancy, coordonnées approchées)
Other villages near Tuilerie romaine de Fargout
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