In Ursins, a small village not far to the south of the Lac de Neuchâtel, many Roman remains have been identified: some have disappeared, some are still visible, and others are still to be excavated. Extensive remains of buildings were seen in the 19th century, and two fragments of inscriptions were found (EDCS-10800452, EDCS-10800451). In 1835 two bronze statuettes emerged, of Mercurius and of a goat, companion of the deity, with a dedication to him by Iulia Iuliana.
Below the goat:
DAEO
MERCVRIO
IVL(ia) IVLIANA
V(otum) S(olvit) L(ibens) M(erito)Below the goat:
For the god
Mercurius
Iulia Iuliana
fulfilled her vow gladly, deservedly.The statuettes of Mercurius (h. 0.265) and of a goat (w. 0.132) found in 1835.
EDCS-10800450; Kolb et al. 2022, nr. 95. Photo: Bürge et al. 2013, figs. 86-87.In 1908-1910 the foundations of a Gallo-Roman temple were excavated in and next to the church of St. Martin. They were investigated further in 1988. Limestone fragments belonging to the temple were identified, reused in the walls of the church and next to it: part of a column (diam. 0.53), part of an architrave (h. 0.59), and parts of cornices. The podium of the temple measured 21.80 x 18.90 m. It was secured by buttress. The church was built on top of the cella, which measured 10.10 x 8.50 m. and was entered from the north, through a door that was 0.80 m. wide.
Plan of the temple. Reymond-Wagner 2012, fig. 2.
Buttresses of the podium of the temple next to the church of St. Martin, which was built in 1702. Photo: Google Maps.
Reconstruction drawing of the temple. Kaiser 2006, fig. 17.
In 1980 a plan from the early 19th century was discovered on which more walls can be seen near the church. Curved walls seem to have belonged to a theatre or amphitheatre. These remains have been destroyed.
The plan from the early 19th century. South is up. The church is top right. Reymond-Wagner 2012, fig. 5.
Aerial photos taken in 2003 during an exceptional drought revealed the existence of a sacred area to the west of the village. Two more temples and a few other buildings can be seen. Fragments of hypocausts on the surface testify to the presence of baths. In several places farmers came across an underground aqueduct. Near one of the temples two more bronze objects had already been found in 2000. A statuette of a horse may have accompanied Epona, protectress of horses. A head of Bacchus or Priapus belonged to a herm.
Aerial photo taken in 2003, from the north. Top left is the church. Top right and centre right are two more temples.
Remains of another building are at the bottom, in the centre. Photo: Reymond-Wagner 2012, 62.
The horse (w. 0.047, h. 0.036) and the herm (w. 0.10, h. 0.136) discovered in 2000.
Photos: Revue historique vaudoise 111 (2003), figs. 17 and 19.Of interest are also discoveries made in the nearby village of Nonfoux, in the remains of a Roman building. A bronze statuette of Mercurius was found here, and an inscription recording the rebuilding of a temple of Mars Caturix. It seems likely that the inscription comes from Ursins, and was reused as building material in antiquity.
MARTI CATVRIGI
L(ucius) CAMILL(ius) AETOLVS
TEMPLVM A NOVO
IN[st]ITVITFor Mars Caturix
Lucius Camillius Aetolus
the temple anew
established.Limestone slab found in 1834 in a Roman building in Nonfoux. W. 0.33, h. 0.226.
EDCS-10800449; Kolb et al. 2022, nr. 94. Photo: Reymond-Wagner 2012, fig. 6.
Literature
Von Bonstetten 1874, 31, 40; Kasser et al. 1969, 73-77; Revue historique vaudoise 90 (1982), 194; Jahrbuch der Schweizerischen Gesellschaft für Ur- und Frühgeschichte 66 (1983), 306; Drack-Fellmann 1988, 530; Gardiol 1989(2); Drack-Fellmann 1991, 266; Fuchs 1997; Revue historique vaudoise 111 (2003), 264-268; Jahrbuch der Schweizerischen Gesellschaft für Ur- und Frühgeschichte 87 (2004), 398-399; Kaiser 2006; Weidmann et al. 2007, 78-79; Reymond-Wagner 2012.
[1-Mar-2024]
