Follow the guide !
In a building with contemporary perspectives which play on transparency and light, the archaeological museum reveals Vaison-la-Romaine’s treasures through an inventive museographic tour covering more than 800 m2 .
The collections offer a complete view of everyday life in Vaison from the early centuries of our era. There are models, drawings and photographs recreating the architecture and landscape of the ancient town and beckoning the visitor to come on a journey through time, into the private lives of our ancestors.
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Prehistoric and Protohistoric section
The first few showcases offer a brief glimpse of prehistory and the know-how of the people of this period. There is a map to help you visualise the prehistoric sites discovered within the town’s territory. The cast of a domestic fireplace, discovered on the left bank of the Ouvèze, and sandstone steles dating from the 6th century B.C., bring the protohistoric age to life. These first few showcases trace the development of the Gallo-Roman town and its own unique characteristics. The visitor then encounters the old Vasio, capital of the Voconces.
The Gallo-Roman town and its public monuments
The clearing of 15 hectares of ruins since the start of the century and the observations made during the town planning work have turned up some precious information about the ancient town. At its height, it covered an area of from 60 to 75 hectares. The town centre stretched out over the right bank of the Ouvèze, which was dammed up with a dyke where it went through the town. There is a model offering a reminder of how the dyke was constructed. Oak piles, on which the stone foundation rested, are on display. Most of the ancient town remains buried underneath the present-day site, and it has only been possible to excavate a few public monuments and some residential, commercial and craftsman’s districts. Lead pipes, water distribution tanks and heaters conserved in the museum remind the visitor of how socially important water was in Roman towns. Elaborately decorated public baths (balnea and thermae), aqueducts and theatres contributed as much to the prestige of the towns of the period as public buildings. This is why the museum has a large space for the imperial statues which once adorned the theatre stage wall.
Trade and craftsmanship
This space displays the evidence of Gallo-Roman craftsmanship, which we know about particularly because of the excavations in the Boutiques district in Puymin. One showcase displays the spring balances used by weavers and the objects made out of bone by treenware craftsmen. Another displays tools : a hammer, a pickaxe, etc. An inscription mentions that tradesmen and labourers came together to form guilds. Numerous coins and some amphora show just how strong trade was at this time.
Religion and funeral rites
The Gallo-Roman religion was characterised by a mixing of the indigenous traditions and the Roman and eastern religions. In the rural world of Vasio, cults linked to fertility, land and men were central, as the inscriptions displayed in the museum demonstrate. The Voconces worshipped Mercury, Sylvanus or Vulcan. One of the most remarkable exhibits in the museum is a 2nd century marble Apollo’s head, a Roman replica of a Greek original. Objects commonly found in tombs, such as perfume phials, oil lamps and mirrors are evidence of the funeral rites practiced by the inhabitants of this period.
Gallo-Roman houses
This subject is the most widely covered as the majority of the remains relate to private houses. A study of the architecture, illustrated by models and reconstructions, shows the construction methods and the way the buildings developed. The domestic objects displayed in the showcases (crockery, tools, glassware, etc) tell us about the customs of the people who lived in some of the large dwellings.
