Activities

The Amis in 2012

Chainsaw wood sculpture - 3 day event - 12th to 14th July 2012
At Saint-Denis-lès-Martel

See News.

The Amis in 2011

A number of volunteers within the Association undertook the strimming and tidying of the site on Friday 15th, Monday 18th and Tuesday 19th July 2011.

The site is currently closed to the public.

The official publication of the book on the battle of Uxellodunum planned for 2010 has been further delayed. Accordingto reliable sources, it will be published in 2012.

The book on the Late Bronze Age by Jean-Pierre Girault and Jean Gasco, co-financed by the Association, is planned for 2011.

Annual General Meeting 2011

The AGM took place on Saturday 21st May 2011 at 18:00.

Committee

MIALET Roger : President
LASCAUX Dominique : Secretary
BIZOT Monique : Deputy Secretary
COURET Monique : Treasurer
BERTRAND Didier : Deputy Treasurer
LACHIEZE Jean-Claude : Vice President
IRELAND Merrick : Vice President
PRANGERE Pierre : Vice President
MISSOTY Christian : Vice President
BONNEVAL Jean-Claude
LESPINARD Chantal
LASCAUX Patrick
COURET Georges

The Amis in 2010

Photos Jean-Pierre Girault. Left to right : Tunnel before protection, Protection of the artificial tunnels, Finishing the tunnel entrances, Remodelling of the site.

Works at the Fontaine de Loulié... Following the land acquisition by the Syndicat Mixte de Gestion du Site d'Uxellodunum (S.M.G.S.U.), the work to protect the tunnels and to carry out the restoration of the site took place during summer and autumn 2010. Under the control of S.M.G.S.U. and its Président, Hugues Du Pradel, the works, financed under the framework of the Pôles d'Excellence Ruraux with the participation of the State, the Region, the Department and the different communes concerned, have allowed the protection of the old tunnels, at the same time preventing further deterioration and giving the site a new look, close to its original form.

The Association des Amis d'Uxellodunum has been active alongside Jean-Pierre Girault in close partnership with the S.M.G.S.U. in order to find a consensus relating to the various technical solutions required.

Restoration of the site is the first stage in its development as a major part of the local heritage.

Processing the spoil... In parallel with these works the Association carried out the mammoth task of searching the spoil for objects of interest before the soil was used for landscaping the site. The process, authorised by the D.R.A.C. (Direction Régional des Affaires Culturelles), took place on 20 separate days between June and October, under the direction of the head of archeological excavation, Jean-Pierre Girault. Finds included : three javelin tips, 133 arrowheads, four iron catapult bolts, one Roman coin of the final period of the Roman Empire and 37 nails from the soles of Roman sandals as well as many river pebbles used as ammunition for slings, shards of pottery and fragments of amphorae.

Grassing of the site ... The work to seed the site was carried out with the help of the Amis in November 2010.

Photos J.P. Girault. Left to right : Examples of armaments found in the spoil, Grassing the site

Other activities of the Association in 2010

9th and 10th April 2010 : preparation for archeological explorations of aqueduct on the plateau... In April the Association carried out strimming and other preparation work following earlier trial holes. The Association provided and served lunches for the team of archeologists during the five-day event led by J.P. Girault. The excavations show that the aqueduct is in fact a water channel of the Late Bronze Age or the first Iron Age (period of the Gauls) but its function cannot be established with certainty. Further excavation would be needed in order to understand how it could have been used. The upper section of the aqueduct was re-covered in septembre 2010.

7th and 10th July : strimming... The beginning of July is the start of the now traditional event of strimming and tidying the site of the Fontaine de Loulié. This involves a team of volunteers of the Association in difficult and dangerous work which is not getting any easier over the years. Those taking part would heartily welcome new young additions to the team. Thanks are due also to the team preparing a hearty and convivial meal to sustain the workers - always a welcome pause in the work.

July 2010 : the wash house... The final stage of the restoration of the outdoor wash house constructed under Napoleon III, in particular the strengtening of the encircling wall and the perimeter of the basin and the installation of a pipe for the water, has been completed. The work was financed by the Association.