Ancient Tombs and Oldest Oven Unearthed During Toulouse Metro Construction

Toulouse Metro Construction Unearths Ancient Tombs and Oldest Potter's Oven Toulouse, France – Ongoing construction of the city's metro line C has led to an unexpected and significant archaeological discovery. In the Saint-Aubin district, workers unearthed eleven ancient tombs and what is believed to be the oldest potter's oven ever found in Toulouse. The Inrap (National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research) has been carefully excavating the site since late April, working at a depth of 30 meters to preserve the fragile remains. The tombs date back to the 4th and 5th centuries, while the remarkably well-preserved potter's oven is from the 1st century. Didier Paya, the Inrap team leader, commented, "It's a truly remarkable discovery. We never anticipated finding anything of this age and significance so far from the city center." The discovery of a significant number of pottery shards alongside the oven suggests a bustling early pottery industry on the outskirts of ancient Toulouse. The Inrap team's meticulous work ensures that these historical artifacts will be preserved and studied, adding valuable knowledge to our understanding of daily life in ancient Gaul. The discovery highlights the importance of preventive archaeology and its role in preserving our shared history.