Nîmes Roman Monuments Reveal New Archaeological Insights

Archaeologists highlight the layered history of Nîmes, France, focusing on two key Roman sites. The so‑called Temple of Diana, part of the Augusteum complex, has survived as a ruin that attracted the attention of Dominique Garcia, president of the Institut national de recherches archéologiques préventives (Inrap). The monument, later converted into an abbey in 991 and destroyed in the 16th‑century religious wars, remains a focal point for scholars and visitors.

Below the world‑renowned Arènes de Nîmes, excavations have mapped a network of underground galleries. The central “cruciform hall” was first uncovered in 1865 by engineer Stanislas‑Victor Grangent and architect Henri Révoil. Subsequent digs in 1987‑89 revealed additional perpendicular passages that once served as machinery rooms for moving animals and gladiators into the arena. These findings deepen understanding of the amphitheatre’s operational design and the broader Roman urban fabric of Nîmes.