Le bassin gallo-romain de Molesme (Cote d’Or) : questions et perspectives de recherche sur les viviers antiques d’eau douce

The great pond of the Gallo-Roman period discovered at the Molesme site (Côte d’Or) in a meander of the Laigne River has been identified as a fish pond because of its technical characteristics (recesses built into the walls, freshwater intake) which can be found in ancient agricultural treaties. This raises the question of the role of freshwater fish-farming in the ancient world: identification of production structures, farming techniques and species determination. Sites for comparison and other studies on this subject are rare: is this due to the state of research or the exceptional character of these fishponds? The Molesme pond, situated beneath the ancient town of Vertillum, could be lin…