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RESEARCH PRODUCT

La tuilerie antique de Hombourg-Budange, Moselle

subject

description

The archaeological excavation undertaken in 2006 by the Institut national de recherches archéologiques preventives (Inrap) at the site “Le Clos des Tourelles” in Hombourg-Budange (Moselle, France) unearthed a Gallo-Roman tilery. It situated close to a medieval site, the initial target of the excavation project. The time span of the Gallo-Roman occupation cannot be stated with accuracy; only its abandonment can be dated to be later than 250 AD. The remains of the tilery are assembling a kiln, drains, a hall, a well, and, among other features, a small building. The plan and arrangement of the different features are représenting the whole working process of the tile production and, additionally, they are giving evidence of an efficient organization of the work. Several studies were carried out to increase our knowledge of the site: archaeomagnetic and radiocarbon dating, plant macrofossil and charcoal analysis, a study of the ceramics and of burnt clay building material, and, not to forget, a functional and architectural study of the tilery.