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Heritage classified

Origin and history

The Villers-Farlay tile oven, discovered in the 19th century, is a Gallo-Roman vestige remarkable for its state of conservation. This oven, of square plan (6 meters side) and entirely built of terracotta, was discovered during archaeological excavations conducted in 1991-1992. It is distinguished by the presence of its sole, the base of the laboratory (upper chamber), and especially by a row of canal tiles (imbrices) not discharged after cooking, a rare case.

The workshop, now protected as a Historic Monument (registered by decree of 23 August 1994), offers a unique testimony of tile production techniques in the Gallo-Roman era. The structure, owned by the municipality of Villers-Farlay (Département du Jura, region Bourgogne-Franche-Comté), is located with a precision deemed "a priori satisfactory". His archaeological interest lies in his architecture and the vestiges of his last cooking, which illuminate ancient artisanal practices.

The discovery and study of this oven helped to better understand the organization of tile workshops in Roman Gaul. These sites, often located near clay and wood resources, played a key role in the construction of habitats and public infrastructure. The presence of tiles still in place suggests a sudden cessation of activity, possibly linked to local economic or political changes.

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