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Introduction The settlement The fortress |
The fortress was built around 325 AD, a date provided by dendrochronology. The wall of the fortress was 2.40-2.60 m. thick. On the corners were round towers, in between semicircular towers. In the centre of the west and east wall were gates (II, 2). A building to the north of the western gate, measuring 12 x 10 m., has been called an arsenal, but its function is unknown. A building to the south-east of the western gate (IV) was a warehouse (horreum). It had a silo measuring 10 x 10 m. with an apse on the west side. A lot of burned grain was found inside, with a radiocarbon date of 430-510 AD. The Northern Baths (III) were still being used.
Plan of the fortress. Drack-Fellmann 1988, Abb. 521.
Visible remains
I: wall of the fortress; II: eastern gate; III: Northern Baths; IV: warehouse (horreum).
Other remains
1: buildings of the settlement; 2: western gate; 3: wall of the fortress; 4: buildings of the fortress; 5: southern baths.
View of the excavations of the eastern gate in 1906. Photo: Hervé 2017, fig. 13.
The remains of the warehouse, seen from the south-west. Photo: Wikimedia, Olivier Anh.An entry in the late-antique Notitia Dignitatum most likely mentions a prefect stationed in Eburodunum: praefectus classis barcariorum, Ebruduni Sapaudiae, "prefect of the fleet of bargemen, of Ebrudunum in Sapaudia [the name of the area]" (Notitia Dignitatum, Occidens XLII,15). This fleet will have been in charge of the transport of troops and of weapons, equipment and food for the army. Two Roman boats have been discovered in Yverdon, near the ancient shore of the lake, a few hundred meters north of the fort. One, discovered in 1971, has been dated to the second half of the first century. It was more than 20 meters long and had a maximum width of 3.20 meters. It could transport a cargo of 15-20 tons. The other boat, discovered in 1984, was around 10 meters long and 1.5 meters wide. It had three benches for rowers, but possibly also one or two sails. The boat may have been used for passenger transport, but also for fishing. It was found along with some pottery from the early fourth century.
The boat that was discovered in 1984. Photo: Musée d'Yverdon et Région.Two cemeteries of the people living in the fortress were investigated already in the 19th century. One was located to the west of the fortress, on the other side of the river Thièle. It is known as the "Nécropole des Jordils". The other was some 150 meters to the east of the fortress, in the ruins of part of the settlement. It has been called the "Nécropole du Pré de la Cure". This necropolis was investigated again in 1990-1993, and 84 tombs were then found from the second half of the fourth and the first half of the fifth century. From the tomb of an individual of indeterminate sex (probably a girl), aged 14-15 years, come two ivory female dolls.
Ivory dolls from a tomb in the "Nécropole du Pré de la Cure".
Preserved h. 0.144 and 0.103. Photo: Musée d'Yverdon et Région.
Introduction
The settlement
The fortress
[4-Mar-2024]
