Sete

SÈTE Hérault, France.

The promontory of Sète, mentioned by the geographers of antiquity, bears no trace of ancient habitation. However, Roman buildings have been found on the peninsula of Barrou, along the Étang de Thau; the waters near the shore contain pre-Roman and Roman substructures and artifacts. Baths were discovered in the 18th c. near some hot springs and more recently exploration has uncovered factories which processed fish and shellfish. These installations were in use during the 1st c. and, to judge from the many ceramics and coins, appear to have been greatly developed under the Late Empire. The artifacts are at the Musée Paul-Valéry at Sète.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Carte archéologique de la Gaule romaine, fasc. X, Hérault (1946) 15, nos. 38-39; “Informations,” Gallia 20 (1962) 627; 22 (1964) 497; 24 (1966) 472; 27 (1969) 400; 29 (1971) 387.

G. BARRUOL