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Origin and history

Briga is a Gallo-Roman agglomeration located in Eu, Normandy, on the plateau of Beaumont in the forest of Eu. Ranked a historic monument in 1987, this site of more than 65 hectares corresponds to a city of the High Roman Empire, which has been searched for two centuries. Its name, Celtic origin (briga, meaning "hill" or "fortress"), evokes its strategic settlement overlooking the Bresle Valley.

The excavations revealed a monumental complex including a sanctuary dedicated to Mercury (Mercurio Brigensi), a theatre, thermal baths, a basilica and a forum. These buildings, built between the first century B.C. and the third century A.D., bear witness to a continuous occupation since the Bronze Age. The site was the capital of the Pagus des Catuslougi, a Gallic people mentioned by Pliny the Elder, and probably depended on the city of the Bellovacs (Beauvais) or the Ambiens (Amiens).

The dedicatory inscription of the theatre, discovered in 1965, reveals that Lucius Cerialius Rectus, a notable local, financed its construction in the second century. Another plaque, found in 2006, confirms the ancient name of Briga and attests to the existence of a basilica dedicated to Jupiter and Mercury. These discoveries, combined with topographical explorations, have identified a city organized in islets, with streets and habitats dating back to the end of the first century.

Briga's decline began in the third century, marked by general raids and Saxons, leading to the gradual abandonment of the site. In the sixth century, the city of Eu (Auvae) was founded below, while Briga, covered by the forest, fell into oblivion until its rediscovery in the eighteenth century. Modern excavations, carried out by Michel Mangard (1965–78) and Étienne Mantel (since 2002), revealed a polynuclear agglomeration, combining religious, political and economic functions.

Major discoveries include a waterproof fanum, a silver statuette by Mercury (2007), and mass graves containing offerings (ceramics, coins, bones). The sanctuary, the heart of the site, evolved from a Gallic place of worship (IIIth century BC) to a monumental Roman ensemble, before becoming a forum in the 3rd century. These elements suggest a desire for local political autonomy, although Briga remained under the tutelage of a neighbouring city capital.

Current research focuses on temple architecture, the pre-Roman origins of the site, and its territorial insertion. Geophysical prospecting and open-area excavations (2012–2015) confirmed the urban organization of Briga, with an estimated population of several thousand people at its peak. The site, now partly accessible, welcomes volunteers each year for summer excavation campaigns.

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