ARLES.- Since April 1, 2015, a programmed archaeological excavation has been conducted at the municipal site of Trinquetaille, on the right bank of the Rhône River in Arles. This excavation, qualified as indispensable by the Ministry of Culture, is being realized by the Archaeology Service of the Departmental Council of Bouches-du-Rhône with support from the city of Arles. It benefits from a partnership with Inrap and collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and Communication, the CNRS, the University of Aix-Marseille and the Centre Camille Julian. This research excavation, which began in 2014 and will end in 2016, has conducted during four months each year.

During the first excavation season in 2014, in a house dated to the 1st century BC, the archaeologists discovered a rare painted decoration of the Second Pompeian Style, dated in Gaul to between 70 and 20 BC. These paintings in incredibly bright colors are located in a probable bedroom (cubiculum), and the sharply contrasting colors seem to define an alcove for the bed and an antechamber. With a strong architectural inspiration, in the lower zone, the painting imitates a podium with a treatment that evokes marble. In the antechamber it supports massive yellow columns, while in the alcove, rich panels imitating marble cladding occupy the middle zone.

In the neighboring room, which is currently being excavated, the paintings on two walls will be uncovered in a few days and will visible during the press conference. Meanwhile, the excavation of the fill levels has already revealed a décor unique in France. On a uniform background of bright vermillion red, a luxurious pigment, fictional columns imitating marble define spaces in which diverse figures are represented. These are very tall and placed on pedestals. The quality of the representations, the finesse of the body shapes and the clothing, as well the richness of the pigments, attest to the work of extremely qualified artists, probably from Italy.

These decors of the Second Pompeian Style, present almost exclusively in southern France (the Antique province of Narbonne), are still poorly known. Few sites have yielded evidence of this style, often being limited to a few fragments, and sites displaying an ensemble this complete are rare. The already exceptional nature of the paintings revealed last year is even more impressive this year. The representation of human figures is extremely rare in paintings of the Second Style in Gaul. Though a few fragments were found in Narbonne, the discovery of a décor as rich as this and offering such scientific and museographic potential is currently unique in France.

These paintings, which required qualified fresco artist groups to come directly from Italy, were reserved for the State Rooms in the richest residences, often those of the leaders of the city, Romans living in the colony, or local notables seeking to show their assimilation into the Roman way of life.

Decors representing notable persons on a vermillion red background are rare. Unknown in France, they are also rare in Italy where less than a dozen are known. Comparisons can be made with great residences such as the cubiculum 4 of the Villa of the Mysteries of Pompeii, or the villa of P. Fannius Synistor at Boscoreale. A true archeological treasure, these remains will revitalize the field of toichographology (the study of ancient mural paintings) and enhance the collections of the departmental museum of Antiques Arles, where within the next few years, visitors will be able to contemplate the vibrant colors that adorned the walls of the residence of one of the highest elites of the city.