Villa Rustica, Roman estate in Montcaret
Villa Rustica is a Roman archaeological site in Montcaret with multiple structures arranged around a central courtyard, including bathing facilities decorated with geometric mosaics and illustrations of marine creatures. The excavated sections display both residential ruins and agricultural structures situated near the Rieu-Tourment stream.
The Roman estate was established in the first century and operated until the fifth century. It contained wine production facilities with two vats for collecting grape must.
A medieval church stands among the ruins, reusing five ancient stone capitals that likely came from the original Roman villa. This blend shows how later generations incorporated the estate's remains into their own buildings.
The excavated sections are open to visitors and spread across the site showing residential and agricultural areas. It helps to allow time for exploring, as the remains are distributed across different zones.
Archaeological investigations from the early 2000s uncovered metallurgical structures near the agricultural section. This discovery shows the estate engaged in metalworking in addition to farming and wine production.
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