Monumental Designs

The excavations carried out in recent years in the area around the sanctuary and the fountain have revealed some architectonic decor of the east-west street which runs along the northern side of these two architectural groups. They have brought to light the bases of a monumental portico constructed during the 2nd century, as well as the capitals and shafts of columns, found in the backfill of later structures.

Of the thermal baths, unearthed in 1847, three architectonic blocks survive, two uprights from a corner pilaster and the upper level of a capital, that could have decorated the entrance to a frigidarium or cold room.

Several indicators lead to the hypothesis that the same team of sculptors worked on the decorations for both the thermal baths and the theatre.

The local origin of the limestone from which these blocks have been cut demonstrates that this team worked on-site, possibly working from imported designs although their provincial fingerprints are firmly identifiable in the style of the plant motifs.

Water management

After the conquest, the development of the Gallo-Roman town and the proliferation of activities created a greater need for water. The solution to this problem was complex because the town's topographical location excluded the use of any of the springs which gushed from the foot of the slopes on the banks of the Creuse.

The discovery of the monumental fountain proves that an adequte technical solution was installed during the last quarter of the 1st century.

This fountain comprises a more or less square basin with a maximum volume of 24m³. At the corners of the basin, four dihedral pillars reinforce the stability of the structure joining the orthostates of the walls by means of an enclosed string-course filled with a tuileau mortar.

To both north and south, two great symmetrical flights of stairs, each with 14 treads, allow access from the surrounding pavement to the outer pedestrian level of the monument.

The fountain was supplied with water by means of an aqueduct made from tubes of hollowed-out wood, arriving in double pairs and supported by a metal fretwork. The water arrived under pressure, no longer at the mercy of gravity. Opposing slopes were resolved by use of small siphons so that for the water to run it was only necessary for the inlet of the tube to be slightly higher than the outlet.

Drainage of water from the Les Mersans plateau never posed any real problems to the Gallo-Roman town planners. It was sufficient to create collection drains perpendicular to the north-south end, at intervals corresponding to the widths of the insulae or decumani.