An "exceptional" vase in worked glass from the end of the Roman period was unearthed in Autun (Saône-et-Loire) during the excavations of the 230 burials of an important necropolis, announced Friday the National Institute of preventive archaeological research (Inrap).
This "extremely rare" vase, 12 cm high for a diameter of 16 cm, is adorned with decorative carved patterns, enhanced with letters in relief forming the words "Vivas feliciter" (Vis in felicity), specified the archaeologists during a press videoconference.
"It is the first whole specimen discovered to date in Gaul", explained one of them, Michel Kasprzyk, adding that there are currently "only ten complete diatret vases in the ancient world".
A diatretic vase is a type of reticulated glass vase from the late Roman period, around the 4th century, believed to be the culmination of Roman achievements in glass technique.
According to Michel Kasprzyk, the last intact specimen was discovered in Taranes (North Macedonia) in the 1970s.
"The room is now kept away from light, under drastic security conditions, before being studied and meticulously restored," said Nicolas Tisserand, deputy head of the excavations.
Archaeologists have also found "rare but rich" objects, such as amber pins, a finely chiseled gold ring, and a gold ring set with garnet, enclosed in a sandstone sarcophagus.
Other stone burials yielded jet pins or rings, coins, a bronze belt buckle, and blue glass beads.
"Large" lead coffins contained fragments of cloth woven with gold thread.
A smaller one contained a child's gold earrings.
"These exceptional, extremely rare discoveries are interesting avenues for the study of the aristocracy of Autun, precociously Christianized at the beginning of the 4th century", commented Michel Kasprzyk, considering that they "will make it possible to illustrate and corroborate testimonies which were then known only by the texts ".
Inrap excavations were carried out from June to mid-September, on a 1,300 m2 site located in Autun, near the early Christian church of Saint Pierre l'Estrier, one of the oldest in Europe. .
Ancient burials of Gaul had been discovered on the site, which became a high place of medieval Christendom at the end of Antiquity.
"Vivas feliciter"
