Alauna

Alauna is a Gallo-Roman town, whose remains are located in the former commune of Alleaume in Valognes, France. Alauna, situated in the northern region of the Cotentin Peninsula, appears to have been established during the reign of Augustus. It underwent significant development during the first century and was extensively occupied during the Gaulish era. It was connected to many towns in the area and is on the Tabula Peutingeriana and Antonine Itinerary. It was the capital of a civitas at some point during the Roman Empire, which declined significantly during the 3rd century. In the Middle Ages, when urbanization resumed in Valognes especially near the Merderet, Alauna became the land for agricultural activities, primarily for livestock farming, a vocation that continues into the 21st century in a Norman bocage landscape. The Ancient Baths of Alauna, which are situated to the north of the city, were added to the list of French protected historical monuments in 1862, and were named a Monument historique. The outskirts of Alauna became a craft center including butchers, forges, and shopping areas.

Alauna is situated 1.6 km southeast of Alleaume on the northwest edge of a plateau between two parallel thalwegs oriented northwest-southeast, which limit it to the east and west. This plateau dominates the depression to the southeast in which the Merderet flows, near the river's sources. While a significant portion of the ancient city's southeastern region is situated on the plateau at an elevation exceeding 50 meters (60 meters near the spectacle building), the remainder follows the valley's slope, with inclines occasionally reaching 10 percent. The baths, situated to the northwest, occupy the lowest point at an altitude of 38 meters. The towns of Valognes and Alleaume are located on the opposite side of the Merderet. A layer of varying thickness of loam, red clays, sands, and pebbles from the Rhaetian period covers the top of the plateau. On the plateau's slopes, formations deposited in the Hettangian period during a marine transgression are present, including the Calcaire de Valognes, which is the predominant rock type in Alauna that occupies the northwestern edge of the Paris Basin Local geological resources have been exploited since the beginning of antiquity, with quarries located west of the town for the construction of Alauna's buildings and roads.

The Peutinger Table indicates that the ancient station of Alauna, which is not represented by a vignette like important towns, was situated on the Roman road connecting it to Coriallo (Cherbourg). The road continues southeast towards Crociatonum, which may be Saint-Côme-du-Mont or Carentan, the Baie des Veys, Augustodurum, and Aregenua (Vieux) before heading towards Rotomagus (Rouen) along the coast. Another road on the Antonine Itinerary, commences from Alauna and proceeds to the south towards Cosedia/Constancia (Coutances), Legedia (Avranches), and Condate Riedonum (Rennes).

Alauna was linked to the Cotentin coastline. To the southwest, a route extends to the Côte des Isles and Portbail, which appears to correspond to the ancient town of Grannonum. It extends to the northeast through the road traverses the Val de Saire before reaching the coast at Barfleur or Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue. To the north, Alauna is connected to Cherbourg and Fermanville. In addition to the main routes that have been confirmed by archaeological evidence, Alauna was also situated at the heart of a network of ancient roads and paths that irrigated the peninsula up to the Cap de la Hague. However, the incomplete state of research across the Cotentin likely understates the importance of this network.

Archaeological site data from Wikidata (CC0). Summary from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).