Remember: rue du Vieux-Collège, in Thionville, excavations were undertaken in 2022. It is difficult not to wonder about what the specialists were able to unearth. It was following various requests that the city’s heritage center wanted to lift the veil on the mysteries that lie under the feet of the Thionvillois. Thanks to the skills of the Drac (Regional Directorate of Cultural Affairs) and the Inrap (National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research), the exhibition “Archaeology, a history to dig” is visible until April 30 at the Tour aux puces . “It is the result of collaboration between the municipality, our teams and archaeologists,” says Bruno Touveron. The Drac Grand Est agreed to lend us a hand and provided us with objects discovered during the excavations in Thionville. They were discovered at the Millaire, at the Capucins or near the Vieille-Porte. On the other hand, those found recently rue du Vieux-Collège are still in the analysis phase.
Workshops and conferences to dig deeper
Through the windows, visitors will go back in time discovering everyday objects such as vases, plates, goblets, coins and even leather soles and even wooden sculptures. “You have Gallo-Roman, medieval, but also more recent pieces from the 16th century such as these ceramic tiles and even bricks”, explains Renée Lansival, archaeologist in Moselle. In parallel at this exhibition, workshops are offered to schools and families as well as conferences , “because there is legislation around these objects,” says the specialist. Friday evening, during the opening, cultural assistant Jackie Helfgott did not grab his spatula or his brush to get his hands on a rare piece, but he was enthusiastic about the work of the scientists who requires thoroughness and patience. “You archaeologists, you are smugglers between civilizations. If, like Mayor Pierre Cuny, you feel like an explorer worthy of Indiana Jones, push open the door of the Tour aux Puces to discover all these treasures.
Exhibition to see in Thionville until April 30. Conferences at La Scala room on March 21 and 23 as well as April 4 and 13 and family workshops on April 16 and 17 on registration. €1 per child.