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Origin and history

The archaeological site of Faverolles, located in the department of Haute-Marne in the Grand-Est region, is a remarkable Gallo-Roman complex. It includes a Augustian mausoleum, built at the end of the estate of an aristocrat lingon, as well as a section of the Roman road linking Langres to the Blaise valley. This mausoleum, unique in the north of France, was distinguished by its structure in three levels, including a tholos with Corinthian columns, and carved decorations evoking mythological and funeral scenes.

Discovered in 1980 in Montgessey's wood, the mausoleum was more than 25 metres high and was surrounded by a 30 metres square enclosure, bounded by a ditch and a slope. The materials used for its construction came from local quarries, identified nearby. The site, partially destroyed over the centuries to serve as a quarry, has delivered many fragments preserved today in the archaeological workshop of the village. These remains, including bas-reliefs and architectural elements, illustrate the symbolic and artistic richness of the Gallo-Roman era.

The adjacent Roman road, secondary but strategic, connected the large Langres-Reims road to the Blaise valley, towards Troyes. The Roman engineers had set up a trench there to soften a steep natural slope, while the ruts visible on the paving show intense traffic. This section, with its partially preserved dastarded stones, offers a rare example of ancient road engineering in the region. The site, registered as a historical monument in 1990, is now owned by the municipality of Faverolles.

Faverolles' mausoleum is similar to other Gallo-Roman funerary monuments, such as those of the Julii in Glanum (Saint-Rémy-de-Provence) or d-Orange, emphasizing its importance in the study of funeral practices and Augustian architecture in Gaul. Its symbolism, combining Bacchus, Menades, Silenes and warrior motifs, reflects the high status of its sponsor, probably a notable ingon. The excavations also revealed nearby extraction quarries, confirming local material production.

The registration of the site in 1990 helped to protect a major archaeological heritage, providing valuable insight into the romanization of Champagne-Ardenne. Remnants, though fragmentary, are an essential source for understanding the old networks, social hierarchies and funeral beliefs of the time. The site remains a place of study for archaeologists and a tangible testimony of the Gallo-Roman heritage in the Great East.

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