00h30 – New discoveries on the archaeological site of Grognon in Namur

The Walloon Heritage Agency (AWaP) and the City of Namur presented Wednesday the results of the last four months of excavations on the archaeological site of Grognon. Ten new discoveries have been made and should make it possible to definitively establish the history of a site already many times explored since the 60's. "We have found the traces of a first habitat which must date back to 2,500 BC, burials which must date from the 1st century, objects that indicate the presence of a major craft in the 4th and 5th, a potter's oven of the 7th or the wooden latrines of the 10th and 11th, so we can say that the latter The preventive archeology operation before the final installation of the car park was very instructive, "said Raphaël Vanmechelen, archaeologist and scientific manager of the site for the AWaP. Among the major finds, the researchers put forward a Latin inscription found during the dismantling of the structures of the Gallo-Roman sanctuary. "The notion of gods and games in the text invites a rereading of the sacred area of ​​the confluence, we can imagine that shows have taken place here," said Raphael Vanmechelen. Started 16 months ago, the current excavations of Grognon will end on August 4. After this date, the companies responsible for the construction of the car park will take over the premises. Archaeologists will now tackle the sorting and badysis of all the elements collected. "The objective is to make a coherent badembly so as to present a final synthesis by March 2020," said Raphaël Vanmechelen. He also said that further excavations could be carried out in the future but believes that the site has now certainly revealed all its important secrets. He now wants to direct the research to other places in Namur such as the edge of Sambre, the citadel or the rue Notre-Dame. On the side of the City of Namur, the head of the public roads department Michel Jehaes said he was delighted by the respect of the schedule by archaeologists and the results of their research. He also confirmed that a public conference would be organized on 19 September to present a first badessment to the population. (Belga)

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