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A Roman house cut directly into the bedrock has been uncovered near the Meria marina, on the coast of Cap Corse in Corsica. Dated to the 4th century CE, it is linked to a port structure identified the previous year. The discovery, reported by The History Blog, sheds light on the role of this small site as a commercial outpost of the island in Roman times, spanning Late Antiquity and the early Middle Ages.
A Preventive Excavation Ahead of Construction
The remains were exposed during a preventive excavation carried out before the construction of a house on a plot less than 100 metres from the shore of the Meria bay, on the Tyrrhenian Sea. As the area is archaeologically sensitive, the law required this detailed assessment before any building work. Such operations allow older layers to be studied before works destroy them.
According to the account published by The History Blog, the excavation followed the discovery, the previous year, of a landing structure dating from the same period and located below the settlement. Together, the two elements suggest a coherent complex tied to the site's maritime life, a point of anchorage where boats could load or unload their goods.
A Construction Adapted to the Rocky Base
The masonry building, made up of two parts, rests directly on the rock. The outcropping schist was deliberately cut to receive the foundations, showing methodical work on the ground before the walls were even raised. The builders then used the stone extracted from the site, shaped into square blocks and laid in alternating headers and stretchers, two bonding patterns in which stones are set perpendicular to or along the length of the wall.
The rock was not erased but incorporated into the structure, serving as an interior facing for the walls in places. Large monolithic schist slabs, wedged with stone chocks and wooden posts, divided the rooms. This solution saved materials and adapted the dwelling to a rocky slope poorly suited to conventional construction.
A Domestic Dwelling and Everyday Objects
Several refuse pits, dug into the corners of the various rooms, yielded mainly fragments of kitchen-related pottery, glassware, iron tools and a grain grinding stone known as a catillus. These objects point to everyday life and confirm the residential function of the building, which had no public or religious purpose.
Post holes surrounded by stone packing may correspond to the wooden supports of a roof covered in tiles. Numerous tegulae, the flat tiles typical of Roman architecture, were found in the abandonment layers, indicating that the roof collapsed when occupation ended.
Meria, a Point of Contact with the Mediterranean World
The Late Antique pottery fragments found here are rare in Corsican archaeology. They are imports from Mediterranean trade networks, which seem to have barely reached the island. The site thus appears to have occupied a distinctive commercial position from Roman times through the early Middle Ages, despite the island's distance from the major centres.
The quantity of metal, glass and stone objects points to a relatively significant craft production, accessible for personal use. A white marble altar table bearing an inscription dedicated to the emperor Claudius, discovered previously, reinforces the idea of a larger settlement in regular contact with the Roman world.
What Further Research May Reveal
Future studies will need to refine the chronology of the occupation and the true extent of the settlement, of which the house represents only part. Linking the buildings, the port and the imported objects could show how Meria fitted into the Mediterranean exchange circuits.
To explore the subject further, enthusiasts can consult Corsican archaeological collections and the publications of regional excavation services, which present the island's discoveries and their context.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Meria archaeological site located?
The site lies near the Meria marina, in Cap Corse, on the Corsican coast facing the Tyrrhenian Sea. It extends to less than 100 metres from the shore of the Meria bay.
What is the date of this Roman house?
The house is dated to the 4th century CE, that is, Late Antiquity. It is linked to a port structure of the same period identified beneath the settlement.
Why was the excavation carried out before construction?
The area is highly sensitive archaeologically, and the law requires a preventive excavation before any building project. This procedure allows the remains to be studied before they are destroyed.
Why is Meria considered a commercial site?
Imported Late Antique pottery is rare in Corsica, which suggests a link with Mediterranean networks. The presence of craft objects and an inscription dedicated to Claudius reinforces this interpretation.
Sources
- Late Roman-era house cut into bedrock found in Corsica — The History Blog
Original summary written with the help of artificial intelligence from the sources cited, checked automatically, then translated from the French original. Information and quotations belong to their authors. Read the French original.
