Roman wall found in Narbonne

Archaeologists in Narbonne, France, have uncovered about 30 meters of curtain wall and a circular tower at 15 quai d'Alsace, challenging the belief that the city was open during the Roman Empire. The find was made during a preventive archaeology project required by the regional archaeology service of Drac Occitanie.

Excavation timeline and purpose

The excavation began in August 2023 and is expected to continue until spring 2024. The site, on the edge of Narbonne’s historic center, was selected for a future residential development by Groupe SM and Vinci Immobilier.

Structure details and Roman parallels

The curtain wall dates to the last decades of the first century BCE. The circular tower sits on square foundations, a design likely intended for stability. Its size and wall thickness match Roman standards seen in cities like Orange, Lyon, and Autun.

Revising historical assumptions

Historians once thought Narbonne lacked fortifications, but this discovery suggests the city was enclosed during the Roman period. The excavation also revealed warehouses active from the first century BCE to the fourth century CE, indicating a long-lasting storage area.

Dating and construction timeline

Inrap, the organization conducting the excavation, is cautious about the exact date of the wall. It likely dates to the last decades of the first century BCE, during Augustus’s reign or shortly before. This suggests the city grew first and later built the wall when it had the resources and desire.

Narbonne’s archaeological legacy

The discovery adds to Narbonne’s long history of archaeological work, with over 150 projects since the 1990s. The quai d'Alsace site shows how development and preservation can coexist. Inrap signed a partnership with the city of Narbonne in September 2025 to highlight such collaborations. Structures found during these excavations are usually removed after documentation, so details should be confirmed with local authorities and Inrap.