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Archaeological glasses and museum: Vesunna museum in Périgueux

Updated: Mar 8, 2023

The museum is located in the Dordogne department. It was built by the architect Jean Nouvel on the remains of a large Gallo-Roman residence, the domus of Vésone, occupied from the 1st to the 3rd century. This museum brings together a large number of Gallo-Roman archaeological objects that tell the story of the way of life of the inhabitants of Périgueux, the Pétrucores.

Beautiful glass objects from the Gallo-Roman period are on display
The enhancement of the domus and the material of the Gallo-Roman period is carried out by a construction of the architect Jean Nouvel
The discovery of the domus dates from 1959. Since then numerous excavations have taken place

I- History of archaeological excavations

-The first Excavations took place from 1960 to 1967 under the direction of Claude Barrière, with the collaboration of Max Sarradet. The excavations bring to light a domus built in the 1st century which is organized around a vast interior garden and has reception rooms decorated with murals, kitchen, private baths. -Excavations continued from 1973 to 1977 with Anne and Jean-Luc Tobie, and Marc Gauthier in 1992 and 1995, under the direction of Claudine Girrardy-Caillat, then in 1999 and 2000 with Luc Wozny.

Magnificent Gallo-Roman glass objects to discover

II- Museum glass objects

The museum has in the windows many glass objects from the Gallo-Roman period from the nearby region. In this article, only some specimens are presented. The best way to discover these objects is to go directly to this magnificent museum. Photos of the collections are available online at the following address:


1- Assiette millefiori


Millefiori plate, from the site of the Gallo-Roman villa of Lussas-et-Nontronneau (large rural dwelling with thermal baths, excavated by L. Le Cam in 1968 and 1984, then by Gwénaëlle Marchet from 2002 to 2005. H. 3.3 cm, W. 15.2 cm, D. 10 cm10 cm





Showcase containing the discoveries of the Gallo-Roman villa of Lussas-et-Nontronneau





2-Two-handled bottle

Molded bottle with two handles of rectangular section with the letter B below. Discovered during the digging of the canal in Périgueux in 1858. 2nd century bottle. Typology : Isings 90, Morin-Jean 16, AR 157


H. 14.4 cm, l. 9 cm, D. du col 6.2 cm





3- Cut

Glass cup, donated by the Abbot of Meycourbie in 1874 H. 4.6 cm, D. 9.4 cm, provenance unknown. 1st century glassware. Typology : Isings 69 a, Morin-Jean 86








4- Bowl

Bowl discovered in Périgueux, during the excavations of D. Bonnissant in 1995 on the site of the Lycée Bertran-de-Born. This object dates from the 1st half of the 1st century. Typology : Isings 12, AR 34, Goethert-Polaschek 30




5-Cup

Ribbed belly cup, discovered in Périgueux, Tour de Vésone during the excavations of Charles Durant in 1907.


Dimensions : H. 6 cm, D. 13.5 cm.

Coupe de la 1ère moitié du 1er siècle.

Typologie : Isings 3a, Morin-Jean 68, AR 2.1


6- Goblets


Two goblets discovered in Périgueux, during the excavations of D. Bonnissant in 1995 on the site of the Lycée Bertran-de-Born. 4th century goblets. Typology : Isings 109b, AR 70.

H. 10.3 cm, D. 6.7 cm (celui de gauche)

H. 7.9 cm, D. 6.8 cm (celui de droite)



7- Tokens or pawns

Glass tokens from three different excavations : - Excavations by C. Barrière and M. Sarradet from 1960 to 1968 (domus de Vésone). -N.M. Nacfer excavations in 1977. - Excavations by C. Girardy in 1985 typology : Cabart 10389BL


Blue token with a diameter of 2.15 cm and a thickness of 0.7 cm.


8- Lisoir à lin

Linen bed discovered in the Vésone domus during excavations by C. Barrière and M. Sarradet, 1960 to 1969. It measures 5.3 cm in diameter and is 2.65 cm thick.


9- Beads


-Perle en verre d'un diamètre de 1,2 cm et d'une épaisseur de 0,9 cm découverte à Coulounieix-Chamiers sur le site de Ecorneboeuf en 1892.


-Perle côtelée découverte à Périgueux sur le site de la domus de Vésone. Typologie : Guiry-en-Vexin 289.

D. 1.75 cm, E. 1.45 cm




Conclusion

Other glass objects are present in this museum, not all of them are presented here. To realize the beauty of this museum, a real visit is essential.


Bibliographie pour les typologies

Cabart 2003

Cabart (H.), Aide mémoire du verre archéologique, Société archéologique champenoise, n°2, tome 96, 2003.


Isings 1957

Isings (C), Roman glass, Groningen, Djakarta, 1957











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