In Saint-Romain-en-Gal, France, the archaeological excavation campaign dedicated to the monumental mausoleum discovered in 2025—one of the most fascinating finds to emerge from the Gallo-Roman area—continues. The research is being conducted by the Département du Rhône, which owns the museum and the Gallo-Roman sites in Saint-Romain-en-Gal, with the aim of deepening our understanding of this funerary monument.
Dating back to the late 1st century B.C., the mausoleum had already impressed archaeologists with its extraordinary size. The discovery has opened up new avenues of research, leading scholars to question the building’s floor plan, its extent, and the role it must have played within the ancient landscape.
Since July 20, a team of archaeologists has returned to work in the area for a new phase of excavations, which will conclude on August 21. This campaign allows for more precise documentation of the structures and the collection of new data useful for reconstructing the monument and the funerary practices associated with it. As the work nears completion, the results are already confirming the expectations raised by the 2025 discovery: the site indeed preserves a funerary monument of exceptional size, characterized moreover by a particularly high level of preservation. The architectural remains that are still discernible offer an important opportunity to study the mausoleum directly within its original archaeological context, avoiding the temptation to view the structure as an isolated element and instead allowing for the reconstruction of its relationships with the surrounding environment.
Among the most important findings to emerge during the excavations are new architectural evidence and, above all, the opportunity to investigate a burial chamber in excellent condition. The remains of a cremation were also discovered inside, a particularly significant and rare finding for a funerary monument of this type. The preservation of these artifacts offers archaeologists the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding not only of the mausoleum’s structure but also of how funerary rituals were practiced and organized in antiquity.
The discovery therefore holds a value that extends beyond the monument’s architectural significance. The study of the mausoleum is conducted through an interdisciplinary approach involving archaeologists and architects specializing in cultural heritage conservation. The combination of different areas of expertise allows for an analysis of the monument from multiple perspectives and a better understanding of both its evolution over time and the conditions that have contributed to its preservation. The research is therefore not limited to excavating and documenting the artifacts, but aims to progressively reconstruct the history of the complex, identifying its transformations, architectural features, and relationship with the ancient landscape. The ongoing investigations will thus help define more precisely the historical and archaeological significance of the mausoleum and its role within the context of Saint-Romain-en-Gal.
Archaeology students from various French and international universities are participating in these activities, gaining hands-on experience in archaeological methodologies and techniques directly in the field. The students’ involvement thus combines scientific research with practical training, allowing a new generation of scholars to engage with the various phases of archaeological work, from documentation to excavation and the analysis of structures. Scientific direction of the activities is entrusted to Giulia Ciucci, representing the Rhône Department; Corinne Rousse, of the University of Aix-Marseille and the Camille Jullian Center; and Stéphane Riochet, of the Rhône Department.
The new investigations thus confirm the significance of the discovery made in 2025. Thanks to its monumental size, its state of preservation, and the presence of cremation remains, the mausoleum at Saint-Romain-en-Gal constitutes a find of extraordinary interest for the study of ancient society and funerary rituals. Future phases of research may gradually yield new insights that will allow us to fully understand its history and significance.
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| France: New excavations at the monumental Roman mausoleum discovered in 2025 in Saint-Romain-en-Gal |
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