Fâ, in Charente-Maritime (F)

Already the Royal Enigineer Claude Masse noted, between 1694 & 1715, the existence of the ruins. But for a long time the importance of the ruins was very underestimated. In 1844 Abbot Auguste Lacurie suggested for the first time that the ruins could be those of the lost city of Novioregum. In the 20th century more and more findings confirmed the importance of the site.

But in 1975 the aerial photography of Jacques Dassié finally revealed it's true size. Today a city of 40 hectares is still largely covered with earth. it was also Jacques Dassié who noted that the standard mile used in the Tabula Peuteringiana is not the standard roman mile of about 1482 metres, but it's Gallic variant of 2450 metres. Because of this 'competeting' city names fell out of range, ending a long and fierce debate.

Novioregum was well placed on the route between the Mare Nostrum and the Barbarians of the north. Many a Greek an Roman traveller or merchantman preferred not to sail around Spain/ Portugal when wanting to make a profit up north. Instead he took the inland route from the Mediterraenean up the Saone river and down the Gironde, or along the Via Aquitania (Narbonne to Bordeaux) which also connects both sides. Do not be mistaken, in the first and second century A.D. there were huge traffic flows taking 'civilized world' luxuries up north and raw materials 'back home'.

The first important constructions were probably built during the Flavians (A.D. 69 - 96), as confrimed by rests of statues and parts of corinthian columns all dating to that time and found on the site. As many acity, it probably had its golden age in the 2nd century A.D. under the rule of the Adoptive emperors. By then the city boasted of a theatre, avenues, harbour and warehouses. The thermae had even been enlarged (meaning city growth and wealth). At it's heighday the city must have had at least 5000 inhabitants. Novioregum can be found in the Antonine Itinerary, possibly dating from the beginning of the 2nd cent. It is not shown on the Peutinger map anymore probably dating . from the 4th or 5th century.

Through the course of the 3rd century it seems to have been abandoned. The 3rd century saw a sharp decline in all cities in the Roman Empire. Civil war and plagues did a lot to reduce the populace. Living at the sea-side became hazardous since the seas could not be kept safe anymore and pirates more and more had a free hand. Around 270, the fall of the Gallic Empire and the abandonement of the Northern Limes left the whole of Germania and Gallia open to barbarian invasions.