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the boats of Pommeroeul
The Espace gallo-romain in Ath has two exceptionally well-preserved Gallo-Roman boats. Both come from the archaeological site at Pommeroeul. In the summer of 1975, a Gallo-Roman site of international importance was uncovered there at a depth of 2.5 metres. The remains reveal a site that was occupied from the Neolithic period to Roman times. The most significant occupation took the form of a Gallo-Roman settlement located at the crossroads of a road (Bavay-Blicquy) and a river (La Haine). This location probably gave it a prominent commercial and artisanal role for the regions north of the ancient city of Bavay. Pommerœul had port areas, dwellings and crafts, wells, necropolises, etc. The Roman occupation can be dated from the 1st century BC to the 3rd century AD.
The barge
The Canoe
The Barge
The barge (dating from the turn of the 1st and 2nd centuries AD) is a flat-bottomed boat that sailed on rivers and streams. It is preserved at a length of 12.70 m and was originally between 18 and 20 m long.
Considered the ancestor of today’s barge, the boat was used to transport heavy goods in Roman times. A remarkable testament to inland waterway transport, trade and the rural economy at the beginning of our era, this major piece in the collections of the Gallo-Roman Centre has been listed among the Treasures of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation since 12 February 2010.
The Canoe
The canoe (dated by dendrochronology to 67 AD) is in very good condition. Made of oak, it is 9.7 metres long and would have been 11.5 or even 12 metres long. It is known as a ‘monoxyle’ (“mono” = one + ‘xyle’ = wood), as it is a hollowed-out trunk, reinforced in certain places.
The canoe was used in Roman times on rivers for travel, fishing and transporting light goods. It is a remarkable example of early river transport and is one of the major pieces in the collections of the Espace gallo-romain.
