The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-09-27
ANTIQUARIAN.
Excavation Gg%% ancient Celtic CITY on Mont


ancient geography of Gaul, there is none, ex
ceptlng that of Alesia, that has given rise to
more bitter controversy than the true posi-
tlon OF Bibracte, the capital of the Eduans
Cesar makes mention of it several times in
MS commentaries; about ten miles from its
walls he obtained his first great victory over
the Gauls, after which he marched his army
straight into Bibracte for provisions and sun-
plies of all kinds, it being the greatest and
richest city of the Eduans. 5.
After six years of hard fighting, when Gaul.
conquered but not subdued, made a last effort
to expel her INVADERS the hostages of the diff
ferent conquered Cities carried away from
Nevers. where Cesar had assembled them
were brought to Bibracte and committed TO
the care of the chief magistrate of the CITY,
which is, says the conqueror, one of the most
important positions in Gaul Shortly after
wards, the general assembly of the chiefs of
Gaul was convoked within its walls, which
after having heard the explanations of Vercin-
getorix, the Arvernian, intrusted him with
the command of the whole national forces.
At the end of this campaign, after the victory
of Alesia, Caesar dispersed his lieutenants and
his legions in different environments and re-
turned to Bibracte in person, to dispense JUS
tice and govern the surrounding country.
This city, which witnessed from its ram
parts one of the greatest massacres ever re-
corded by history within whose walls the
general HalrS OF ATaul were ulSCuSSeu ana
settled; where Caesar, after his conquest
deemed it prudent to reside, and selected it
therein to exercise the functions of sove-
reignty-this city has disappeared, and his
tory is mute both concerning its abandonment
and ruin, so that its very site, at the present
day, has become problem.
Beauvray was long considered to be the
modern corruption of the ancient Bibracte,
but proof positive has since been pro-
duced that they both hourished at the same
time.
The name of Monasterium Bibractense the
title of small convent founded so far back
as A. ID. 1888, first attracted the attention of
our most celebrated antiquaries the result of
extensive excavations made in the vicinity,
and the study of the external features of the
locality, appear to have settled beyond dis
pute that the ancient monastery occupies the
centre of ancient Bibracte. The position,
eminently adapted for defensive operations,
is crowned by an enormous intrenchment,
five thousand yards in length, fortified, ex-
ternally and internally, by other earth
works, made by the hand of man; five en-
frances, leading to it, to this day
plainly visible, one of which is called the
''Great Gates" approached by an ancient
Celtic causeway; from the most elevated
part of this enclosure, the Puy de Dome and
Mont Blanc are both visible in fair weather.
, When the Emperor Napoleon III was COM
posing his work on julius Caesar, he ordered
r number of excavations to be made, which
threw much light on points hitherto disputed
The only field of battle agreeing with Cesar IS
description, where the two-thirds of the ma
tion of Helvetii were slain, is situated in the
vicinity of the monastery, and the measures
taken to discover sites of interest, in accord
arce with his own descriptions, only tended
to confirm the scientific world in the sound
ness of the old warriors Judgment and the
veracity of his recitals.
In excavating the intrenchments referred
to, traces of walls and houses were found
throughout the whole space protected by
them, exceeding altogether two hundred and
fifty acres. In 1865, at the Parc-aux- -Chevaux,
the foundation of wall with buttresses was
cleared, measuring, in length, forty-eight
yards; it surrounds large construction, the
use of which is still unknown, from which
aqueducts diverge on every side, one OF
! which, explored the length of one hundred
and eighty yards, was found to pass under
meath the foundations of several houses, some
of which contained fragments of mosaics ant
frescos.
Other houses were opened up and exa
mined, but contained only coal, nails, porce
lains bones ashes and few medals; but
in pursuing these investigations, a large
dwelling-house was exposed to view, com
posed of several apartments, foored will
ornamental tiles.
| one OF tnem, nVe ana nai1 Dy TOUR ana
half yards, rested on a hypocaust, the furnac
of which and five pillars were still in place
the pavement being of mosaic in black ant
white bands
The border was formed by great cubes o
brick of quite an unusual character.
In an immense neighboring apartment
perhaps a court, the pavement of artifcia
stone of Roman appearance, covered doubl
bed of crushed and broken amphoras, con
tanning human ashes; one of the finest con
tained besides, wild boar's tusk a broker
iron ring, and, in the middle of the ring
silver Celtic medal of Docirlx.
These amphoras, of large size and beauti
full form, are much superior in all respects t
those found in Autun.
This house, by an antiquarian whim, wa
called Ciesar's winter house of Bibracte.
In 1866 and 1867 the enclosure calle
Champlain was explored, and forty ston
houses were uncovered, containing Celtic mi
dals, bones, fragments of coal, ashes, poi
teries, etc., the most of which were bui
without any regard to lines or regularit
some of them having staircases to descen
into them.
The apartments of these houses are yer
variable in size, but are most commonly frol
four to five yards by from six to seven yard
the thickness of the walls being half yarC
The discoveries of 1868 were almost el
tirely related to military constructions al
industrial establishments. A main entran
was explored, fianked by two redans of gre
height, and commanded by them on the san
principle as the gates of our citadels by towe
and bastiOns.